Penn State's research expenditures exceeded half a billion dollars in 2002. Total expenditures for organized research equaled $507 million, an increase from $472 million in 2001.

The $507 million encompasses all of the possible funding avenues, including federal funds, funds from industry, appropriation money, grants, contracts and state funding.

Research expenditures have increased more than 7 percent for the fourth consecutive year, according to Penn State's Annual Report of Research Activity for fiscal year 2002. Grants and contracts from federal sources increased by 15 percent.

In the National Science Foundation's annual analysis of research institutions Penn State is ranked 11th in the nation.

"We are consistently in the upper ranking among all the schools," said Bob Killoren, assistant vice president for research.

To obtain funding, a faculty member must submit a research proposal, and if it is approved, funding is allocated for the project.

"Penn State is kind of an unusual school. Penn State enjoys a very balanced portfolio," said Eva Pell, vice president for research. "When you're a leading research university, success breeds success. Funding organizations gravitate toward us and we give back."

Initiatives range from developing nanotechnology to improving watersheds on the Atlantic coast.

Faculty, graduate and undergraduate students participate in the studies.

The research projects often require input from other organizations.

"There's more and more going on at the boundaries of traditional disciplines," said Robert McGrath, associate vice president for research. "There's a lot of inter-institutional collaboration that takes place."

Interdisciplinary research brings together experts from different fields who explore the possible impact a research project could have and work to solve any problems that might be created.

Changes in weather patterns, global warming, use of fossil fuels and issues of biocomplexity are big questions with which the scientists wrestle, McGrath said.