The country's ability to crawl out of its economic slump will depend on its supply of creative engineers and scientists, said OU President David Boren Tuesday at the dedication of Devon Energy Hall, OU's new energy facility.
"We need vitality injected into America's economy," he said before cutting the ribbon of the 103,000-square-foot, $30 million building that now shadows a section of Boyd Street. "For the last four years, I've read that people don't expect America to be as good as the past. I read that and want to shout that's un-American."
Boren said the U.S. has the human talent to continue to be a world leader, despite India and China producing four times as many engineers.
"America doesn't run from the future," he said.
And it shouldn't steer away from oil and gas in favor of solar and wind power as these new technologies are refined, said Larry Nichols, chairman, co-founder and CEO of Devon Energy Corp.
"Everybody knows that when the sun sets and the wind stops blowing, what's going to cool your house tonight, what's going to keep the electricity and the computers and the TV going. It's going to be fueled by natural gas, or coal or oil. Those historic fuels that have gotten our country this far and made us this competitive," said Nichols, whose wife, Polly, is an OU graduate.
Nichols' father, John Nichols, Devon co-founder and chairman emeritus, and his wife, Mary, both of whom are OU graduates, initiated the company and family's support of the university.
Boren added that the country can't rely solely on tax funds to thrust science programs forward and reiterated the need for stewardship, such as the donation from Devon Energy Corp., whose $10 million contribution facilitated the rendering of the new building for the College of Engineering, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009.
At the donation's initial announcement in 2004, Boren said it was the largest single corporate contribution to OU at one time and emphasized the stronghold the company holds in the oil and gas industry.
"It says something that in a time of challenge that building goes up," Boren said of Devon's new office tower in Oklahoma City that, when completed, will be the largest in the state.
The new facility showcases three types of classrooms: seminar rooms, group-oriented rooms and 60-seat team rooms.
In addition to the classrooms, the building features four floors of research space for weather radar, microelectronics and software and private break-out spaces where multiple projects can be worked on simultaneously.
College of Engineering Dean Tom Landers stressed the field's reliance on inter-disciplinary interaction as he referenced the small and large team rooms located along the building's main corridors, where anyone could stop to investigate current projects.
Devon Energy Hall also unites in one building the schools of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering, previously scattered across campus.
"We view this as an investment," Larry Nichols said. "An investment most importantly in the students whose profession our country really depends on."
Nanette Light 366-3541 nlight@normantranscript.com
Local news
Devon Energy Hall dedicated
- Local news
-
-
Defendant found guilty in manslaughter trial
After only a few hours of deliberating, a Cleveland County jury found Cole Hopper guilty of manslaughter Tuesday afternoon. The jury has recommended a sentence of nine years....
-
May tornadoes prompt heightened scrutiny of school shelters
Barely a month since their occurrence, the tornadic events of May have joined the ranks of high-profile school emergencies as a source of heightened scrutiny on schools’ emergency preparedness....
-
The NCVB recieves a clean audit and orders for a clearer budget
In sharp contrast to recent criticism by city leaders, auditors gave the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau a clean audit Wednesday. Certified public accountant Larry Pace said the financial audit was completed May 10 and covers the ...
-
Jazz in June festival begins today
The 30th annual Jazz in June festival kicks off today and will continue until Saturday. The free festival began as a single concert in 1984 that drew a crowd of 300. Now this Norman tradition is expected to attract 50,000 people....
-
City leaders ask voters to approve wastewater rate increase
City leaders will ask voters to approve a wastewater rate increase in November to pay for $63 million worth of improvements to the south sewer plant. Treatment capacity will be increased by 5 million gallons per day when the ...
-
Man faces charges for alleged Craigslist car-selling scam
A Norman man faces several charges after allegedly collecting money for a car he was advertising on Craigslist that he never sold. Billy Joe McCauley, 21, was charged with obtaining cash or merchandise by false pretenses, two counts of ...
-
Summer cooling assistance is available
A limited amount of summer cooling assistance funds will be made available across the state through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is administered through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services....
-
Craigslist leads to larceny charge for three who allegedly stole man’s pants, valuables
Three people were charged in Cleveland County District Court after a plot to steal a man’s valuables went awry at a Norman hotel Saturday. Two of the individuals, Heather and Pablo Nuncio, were charged Monday with conspiracy to commit ...
-
Virginia man charged in Cleveland County with lewd acts to a child
A man from Virginia was charged with lewd acts to a child Wednesday in Cleveland County District Court after a Norman child was forensically interviewed. Shawn Christopher Turner, 38, was charged with lewd or indecent acts to a child ...
-
Police find $50K, marijuana after pursuing man
A Moore man was charged Tuesday in Cleveland County District Court after he led police on a pursuit Friday and was caught with nearly $50,000 in cash and marijuana he threw out the window during the chase....
- More Local news Headlines
-
Ex-Hit Man's Past Is a Shock to Some Neighbors
Fans: Gandofini 'Put New Jersey on the Map'
Does Future of Human Race Depend on Kansas Mine?
Reining in 'Bad News' Sports Parents
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
