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— that also received the CTSA this year. Happenings in the medical field at UK have exceeded
President Todd’s expectations.
F. President’s Report (PR 1)
UK Gets $6.9 Million Federal Grant to Study Biofuels
President Todd turned to PR 1’s first item — the receipt of a $6.9 million federal grant to help
reduce America‘s reliance on imported oil, which has a potential impact of creating jobs for
fanners and spreading the results of the research that UK does in Lexington and throughout the
state. It is one of eight awards issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S.
Department of Energy. The purpose of this UK project is to improve the economics for
biorefineries by using on-farm processing to convert biomass (locally grown switchgrass and
miscanthus) to a mixture of butanol, ethanol, acetone, and organic acids. The product can then
be easily transported to a biorefinery for further processing. The proj ect will integrate input from
experts in a variety of disciplines, including plant and soil scientists, horticulturists, chemical
engineers, and economists. The principal investigator is Sue Nokes, a professor in the
Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
Tempur-Pedic to Build $18 Million Headquarters at Coldstream Research Campus
Lexington-based Tempur-Pedic, an international company that manufactures and distributes
mattresses and pillows made from its proprietary pressure-relieving material, will build an $18
million world headquarters at UK’s Coldstream Research Campus. Construction of the 100,000
square foot building is expected to begin this fall and should be completed by December 2012.
The company will add 65 new jobs over the next five years for a total of 300 jobs. Provost
Subbaswamy and Vice President for Commercialization and Economic Development Len Heller
were instrumental in working with Tempur-Pedic scientists and executives to make this
agreement.
Kentucky Film Premiers on KET Includes UK Faculty
"Kentucky—An American Story” premiered on May 24 on Kentucky Educational Television.
The film was narrated by film star and UK alumna Ashley Judd, directed by Academy Award
winning filmmaker Paul Wagner, and written and produced by fonner UK history professor
Daniel Smith. It is a provocative and entertaining documentary about the revealing connections
between Kentucky‘s and America‘s past. Started by then-department-head Daniel Smith as a
proposed UK Collaborative, the film offers commentary from UK history professors Ron Eller
and Tracy Campbell, along with prominent Kentucky authors Silas House, Erik Reece, and Al
Smith.
Jazz Ensemble Invited to Perfonn in Switzerland Netherlands
President Todd announced that the UK Jazz Ensemble has been invited to perfonn at two major
intemational jazz festivals this summer. The ensemble will be among a select group perfonning
at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festival in
Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Less than 10 percent of applicants to these two prestigious jazz
festivals are selected to perfonn at the events, which showcase professional and legendary jazz
musicians. The UK Jazz Ensemble will tour Europe June 28 through July 12 on the largest tour