FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT:
August 7, 2014 Brenda Lopez 956.544.8352
PRESS RELEASE: Congressman Vela Announces $107K Grant for UT Brownsville Mathematics Department
Funds are provided by the National Science Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Filemon Vela (D-Brownsville) announced The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) Mathematics Department was awarded a grant of $107,365 to find innovative solutions to classic math problems such as sphere packing and Tammes problem. The research also aims to teach and inspire the next generation of mathematicians.
“UT Brownsville has a tradition of innovation in research, which will continue as it makes its transition into UT Rio Grande Valley. The research by UTB will have applications in international trade, provide jobs, and advance the scientific community,” said U.S. Rep. Vela. “Education and research in the STEM fields is vital to keeping our nation competitive and moving families into the middle-class. UTB is a big part of this. I’ll continue to work with UTB and the Brownsville community to secure additional grants that improve quality of life and offer more opportunities for South Texans.”
The funds are provided by the National Science Foundation. The bulk of the research will focus on how to use space more efficiently and developing new tools to solve classic combinatorial problems. UTB also hopes to inspire its STEM students to apply for grants for their own research.
For more information, please call the UT Brownsville Mathematics Department at (956) 882-6636
For more information on U.S. Rep. Vela, visit vela.house.gov. Learn more about U.S. Rep. Vela by liking his Facebook page or by following him on Twitter.
U.S. Representative Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, represents the 34th District of Texas, which is anchored in Cameron County and runs nearly 300 miles north to Gonzales County. Vela is on the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on Homeland Security, and is the Co-Chair of the Border Caucus.
