This marks the first time that Purdue have joined forces for the annual event, in which supporters of higher education from across Indiana travel to Indianapolis to meet with their legislative representatives.

Press Release

Feb. 4, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University and Purdue University will join together Feb. 17 for the 18th annual Hoosiers for Higher Education Statehouse Visit and Indiana Innovation Alliance Day, making the case to state legislators for the Alliance and its importance to the state's economic future.

This marks the first time that Purdue have joined forces for the annual event, in which supporters of higher education from across Indiana travel to Indianapolis to meet with their legislative representatives.

Hoosiers for Higher Education packed the North Atrium for a previous Statehouse Visit Day.

The event will include exhibits highlighting collaborative research and work done by researchers with Indiana businesses, remarks by IU President Michael A. McRobbie and Purdue President France Córdova, and opportunities for participants to meet individually with lawmakers.

Launched by Purdue and IU in June 2008, the Indiana Innovation Alliance is a broad-based research alliance to help Indiana grow its bio- and life-sciences industries, improve public health and expand medical education. The universities are proposing that the legislature provide $35 million for the alliance in each year of the 2009-11 biennial state budget.

The historic alliance between Indiana's public research universities will produce more jobs in the bioscience sectors, increased investment in research and development, better life-science solutions, more health care professionals, researchers and innovators, improved access to health care, and healthier citizens.

In the morning of Feb. 17, research collaborations and research-related business startups will be on display in the North Atrium of the Statehouse, giving lawmakers a chance to learn about the economic and medical promise of the Indiana Innovation Alliance. Exhibits will feature collaborations by IU Bloomington, IUPUI, the IU School of Medicine and Purdue in areas such as nanotechnology, cancer care, analytic instrumentation, orthopedics and pharmaceuticals.

Registration is from noon to 1 p.m. in the Statehouse Rotunda. McRobbie and Córdova will speak during a program from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the North Atrium. Visits with legislators will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Hoosiers for Higher Education will present the Welsh-Bowen Distinguished Public Official Award and the Sue H. Talbot Distinguished Member Award during a reception at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Transportation will be provided to the Statehouse from Indiana University campuses. E-mail hhe@indiana.edu for more information. To register for the visit, please call 800-937-3448 or visit http://gov.indiana.edu/hhe/statehouse/registration.shtml for online registration.

Hoosiers for Higher Education is a grassroots advocacy organization that is sponsored by the Indiana University Alumni Association and works in conjunction with the IU Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations. For more information, see http://www.gov.indiana.edu/hhe.

Source: Indiana University