WiredInUSA-November2015

INDEX

Image: http://catalog.uark.edu

The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville will receive over $12 million in federal funding to establish a national research center to help keep the nation’s power grid safe from cyber attacks. Alan Mantooth, professor of electrical engineering at UA, said: “There’s a lot of different computers that are involved in monitoringand improving the efficiency of the grid, and so that does make it vulnerable.” Mantooth will serve as director of the US department of energy’s cyber security center on secure electric energy delivery systems.Hesaidthenewcenterwillmakethe university a hub for research collaboration involving four other institutions. “This was a nationally competitive award. There were many applicants, and the fact that we won this is a major deal for us,” he explained, estimating that about 25 researchers will collaborate on center projects. Securing research

The bid was helped by UA’s existing focus in power grid technology, such as the university’s national center for reliable electric power transmission, whose power electronics test facility will be used by researchers involved in the new cyber security center. UA is also home to another power infrastructure collaborative, known as the grid-connected advanced power electronic systems center. The US funding will be spread among the participating institutions, and research partners will share about $3.3 million in costs associated with the center.

wiredInUSA - November 2015 wiredInUSA - November 2015

13