Steven J. Fluharty, Penn's vice provost for research, joined Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, other members of Congress as well as other representatives of the country's leading universities on Capitol Hill this week to announce the launch of ScienceWorksForUS, a joint initiative detailing the important scientific research made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

ARRA, also known as the federal stimulus program, provided $21.5 billion for scientific research, the purchase of capital equipment and science-related construction projects aimed at boosting the nation's economy.

"All of our universities praise Congress and the Obama administration for their visionary commitment to science," Fluharty said at the announcement Nov. 17. Researchers at Penn have submitted 1,200 grant applications, representing nearly $1 billion. To date, Penn has received $166.5 million in ARRA funding.

At the event, Pelosi unveiled a new website, www.ScienceWorksForUS.org, that highlights the ARRA research happening in all 50 states. Penn launched its own ARRA website, www.upenn.edu/research/arra, earlier this year.

In his remarks, Fluharty said the ARRA awards have allowed Penn to support its key priorities of maintaining the momentum of vital scientific exploration during difficult economic times, encouraging innovative research among the world's best scientists and ensuring the University's facilities are state-of-the-art so scientists can continue to "pursue research in neuroscience, nanoscience and transitional medicine."

ScienceWorksForUS is an initiative of the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public Land-grant Universities and The Science Coalition, groups that collectively represent more than 200 of the nation's leading academic research institutions.

Originally published on Nov. 19, 2009