Penley Panel

This issue of The Competitive Edge underscores the connection between the economy and higher education. Contributing writer Martin Shields highlights a national study with implications for policymakers that considers the broad social benefits of investing in higher education. The topic is timely as our state leaders struggle to secure support for Colorado's colleges and universities, which rank 49th in the nation in state funding per full-time student, surpassing only Vermont.

Although funding for critical needs such as higher education remains an issue for our state, Colorado's universities continue their groundbreaking innovations. Last month, we showcased Colorado State University's newest Clean Energy Supercluster, Cenergy. This month, we continue the discussion of renewable energy and also highlight pioneering biomedical technologies that have implications for our health, such as groundbreaking gene research and advancements to ease chronic back pain. And while our biomedical sciences researchers focus on innovations at the micro level, our agriculture-economics researchers address basic survival at the macro level as they find solutions to the limited water supplies in the developing world.

Thank you for joining us.

Larry Edward Penley
Chancellor and President