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Final Note

OSP ‘bringing good work into the world’

by CJ Hines

In 1899, Charles H. Duell, director of the U.S. Patent Office said, “Everything that can be invented has already been invented.”

Fortunately for us, no one listened.

In the 20th century alone, technological and scientific discoveries gave us convenience (disposable diapers), safety (traffic signals), enjoyment (cable TV, the Internet, DVD players), knowledge (identification of DNA, Alzheimer’s disease and the HIV virus) and health-related advancements (open heart surgery, organ transplants and medicines to combat myriad diseases and illnesses).

The 21st century looks as though people will continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and imagination. Right here at UNI, brilliant minds are engaged in research projects ranging from ergonomics to prosthetic devices, educational tools, pollution reduction and cancer research.

Finding resources or grant money to conduct research can be challenging. Now, through an initiative endorsed by President Robert Koob, a system has been created to provide a comprehensive, collaborative and integrated approach to sponsored programs.

Christina Sales, instructor for UNI’s Center for Early Developmental Education; and Jeffry Sales, instructor, director and parent coordinator for the center, demonstrate a Ramps and Pathways activity at the Creative Endeavors conference in October.

“Because of the need for more on-campus jobs, I urged faculty and staff to seek more grant funding. To support that effort UNI created the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP),” said Koob. “At the same time, to pave a way for those who may be seeking patents that eventually may also lead to business or other ventures that could bring income, we created within that office the Office of Intellectual Properties.”

Jill Trainer, interim associate vice president, heads the OSP, which will support all stages of grant management, as well as convey UNI’s policies on scholarly responsibilities and protection of human and animal subjects. Through its Office of Intellectual Properties, the OSP will provide information on intellectual properties protection and guide people in the use of copyrighted material.

“The office includes grant funding, research policies and intellectual property, all of which previously were Graduate College functions,” Trainer said. “We’re going to increase the pre-award support, matching people with grant opportunities and helping grant writers find collaborators.”

The Office of Intellectual Properties can also help secure legal protection and develop strategies to bring intellectual properties to the marketplace.

“We’re trying to get more support so people can do more research and discover opportunities to turn them into something useful. We’ll help people who are doing interesting work to bring that work forward, find partners and help people steer through all the legalese. It’s about bringing good work into the world,” said Bill Witt, Intellectual Properties officer and former state legislator. “When I came back full time to the university I was asked to help set up a better system of supports for research.”

One of those support areas was the formation of the University Intellectual Property Committee, which includes Witt and four others, with Trainer overseeing the committee.

“We have people representing trademarks, copyrights, patents and two additional faculty to assist us,” Witt said. “A number of faculty and staff have obtained patents on their research. Some of it has been marketed and licensed, some of it hasn’t. It’s something we’ve been working toward for a couple of years.”

Cliff Chancey, Physics Department head, and Nancy Hamilton, Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services professor, are collaborating with Clark & Associates Prosthetics and Orthotics on an augmented sock that will reduce the pressure between prosthetic and limb.

“The Office of Sponsored Programs has made it easier to file intellectual property forms,” Chancey said. “It’s the general benefit of one-stop shopping. People don’t have to ask ‘Is it something the Intellectual Properties committee should handle or is it the Grants office?’ Having one office that oversees both makes it easier to encourage faculty and students to run with research ideas.”

Witt is currently working with staff of the Regents’ Center for Early Developmental Education, headed by Director Rheta DeVries, on a project studying construction activities in which children at the Freeburg Early Childhood Program participated.
“Constructivist education appeals to children’s interests, engages them in experimentation with phenomena of the physical world and fosters cooperation,” said DeVries. “We’ve created a DVD titled Ramps and Pathways for teachers, curriculum directors and administrators that focuses on a physics activity involving inclines and marbles. Examples are drawn from video observations of ramp activities in classrooms for children 3-years-old through first grade.”

Witt is conducting a nationwide study to assess the marketability, value, pricing and other elements of Ramps and Pathways.

“If it shows promise, we’ll help the Freeburg faculty draw up and implement a business plan, acquire working capital and whatever else they need,” Witt said. “Overall we’re looking at how we can be more supportive and productive. From that follows the question, if we have more people doing sponsored research, are there more things that can come out of it? That’s what we’re looking into.”

For more information about intellectual properties, grants or the Office of Sponsored Programs, call 319-273-3217 or go to www.uni.edu/osp.

Maintained by the UNI Alumni Association
Last Modified: January 25, 2006