Congressional funds add up to
$1.5 million boost for center

Sacramento State’s plans for a Science and Space Center came one step closer to fruition with last Wednesday’s announcement of a $950,000 federal appropriation for the facility. The proposed $8 million center will contain an observatory, planetarium, hands-on science exploration areas and laboratories for students interested in astronomy research.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui was instrumental in getting the measure included in the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Report. The funds augment $550,000 the University received last year through the help of her husband, the late Congressman Robert Matsui.

Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez said, “Sacramento State and the science and math community owe a great debt of gratitude to Congresswoman Doris Matsui and the late Congressman Robert Matsui for their dedicated work on behalf of the University. The $1.5 million in federal funding they have secured for the University will be the catalyst for building a Science and Space Center that will benefit not only the students of Sacramento State but the entire Sacramento Region.”

In a news release, Doris Matsui said, “This facility will further enhance Sacramento State’s leadership, which already partners with NASA scientists on engineering and astrophysics research projects.”

The funds will allow the University to expand its partnerships with NASA and purchase a wide range of equipment including solar and astronomical telescopes, observatory domes and high-volume lab servers. Part of the project will house the Center for Mathematics and Science Education to support and enhance the skills of more than 1,000 K-12 mathematics and science teachers each year.