Veridian Gives Gift of Knowledge to UB Libraries

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Veridian, through its Buffalo operation, has donated an extensive collection of engineering research materials and technical reports to the University at Buffalo Libraries, making the collection available to the public for the first time.

Portions of the donated material date back to the 1940s when the Curtiss-Wright Airplane Division laboratory was converted into a public research institute, the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory, which in 1972 became Calspan Corp. In 1978, it became a Arvin/Calspan Advanced Technology Center, which became Veridian when Calspan and the Alexandria, Va.-based Veda merged in 1997.

"We value our long history with Veridian and appreciate this gift of historical journals and technical reports. The collection will be a rich resource for our faculty and students who generate solutions for societal problems," said Mark Karwan, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

"These materials represent an in-depth, high-technology research base supporting both the academic and commercial sectors in Western New York," said Nancy Schiller, associate librarian in the Arts and Sciences Libraries.

"It's a win-win situation," said Sue Doughtie, head librarian at Veridian. "As our library converts to a more virtual resource, this ensures future access to irreplaceable research material and allows us to share Veridian's rich technological heritage."

According to William Rae, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in the UB Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Veridian has provided critical support in the development of the courses he instructs in flight dynamics of airplanes and road vehicle dynamics.

Currently stored in UB's Science and Engineering Library, the collection will be processed and fully integrated into the Libraries' collections by the end of 2002. The technical report collections, when combined with the existing University Library holdings, will create the most extensive technical reports resources in Western New York.

The donated materials cover aeronautics and aerodynamics, chemistry, computer sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, mathematical sciences, physics, regulations, research administration and transportation. The material, much of it in microfiche, includes approximately 420,000 technical reports, 25,000 society papers and volumes of journals and books.

Veridian's gift is part of UB's $250 million fund-raising campaign; one of the largest ever conducted by a public university in New York and New England. Although it's the fifth major campaign of its kind conducted by UB, it is the first national/international, university-wide, and alumni-driven campaign with volunteer leaders from all over the country. Funds raised will be used to enrich academic programs, support undergraduates to post-doctoral students and enhance university life.

For information on how you can support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving.