The downturn of the U.S. economy in the wake of security threats and war, has affected the source of research dollars and, consequently, the way research is performed at UA.

Three of the top six private companies that sponsored research at the university in 2002 are members of the defense industry, according to a report by UA's research department.

Lockheed-Martin, the number-one provider of research dollars gave $8,976,007 to the university last year. That was a $8,446,737 increase from 2000, when Lockheed-Martin ranked 13th among private companies providing research money to the university, according to the report.

The biggest factor influencing this trend has been the economic downturn, said Richard Powell, vice president of Research and Graduate Studies.

"It just so happens that these are the companies with the most research money right now," Powell said. "In the past, the telecom and IT companies were big funders, but the economic downturn has hurt their research budgets."

Certainly the funding by the Department of Defense has been extensive. - Nasser Peyghamnarian optical sciences professor

Boeing Aerospace Company provided the UA with $887,326 last year, and is ranked sixth among private sponsors. Two years ago, Boeing was ranked 30th, giving a little more than $300,000. Raytheon Company, which has a missile systems factory in Tucson, ranked third overall, giving $2,337,834 in 2002, a $1,484,914 increase from 2000.

Also, the Department of Defense accounted for 3.4 percent, or $12,764,764 of the almost $374 million research budget, the report stated.

Powell said most of the university's research involving defense-related issues is fairly basic, such as the testing of theories for possible defense technology.

The Department of Defense budget for research is broken down into six different compartments entitled, 61, 62, 63, and so on, Powell said. Research money allotted to 61 projects involves researching possible theories or ideas that have sparked the department's curiosity. Sixty-two money is awarded to research that has gone to the next level and is more applied, and 63 involves actual technology demonstrations and solutions.

For the most part, the university only takes part in 61 projects, and has only done 62 projects on rare instances in the past, Powell said.

Nasser Peyghamnarian, a professor in optical sciences and the chair of the Photonics and Lasers research, said he focuses a great deal of his research on developing novel technology for the future.

His latest project involves developing equipment that will help the military detect chemical and biological agents more effectively. He said he and his students are attempting to design a smaller, handheld detection device that can be taken into the field.

"Certainly the funding by the Department of Defense has been extensive," Peyghamnarian said.

Peyghamnarian has also worked in coordination with the Department of Defense and defense industries on new technology to improve optical communications, fiber optics and information systems.

None of the research that is currently being done at the university, however, is benefiting U.S. troops fighting in Iraq, Powell said.

"We do basic research, and there is a time lag of about 10 years between when basic research is done and when the results are translated into use," Powell said. "Whatever technology that is currently being used in Iraq was developed years ago."

Although the world is not seeing the results of current defense research being conducted at UA, many students believe it is a necessity for the future.

Kevin Fisher, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, returned to UA because non-defense related industries simply aren't hiring. He said the availability of jobs is parallel to the flow of research money.

"It's all that is out there right now," Fisher said. "People need to get research done, and this is the way it is being done right now."

Andrew Collins, an economics sophomore, said the defense industry and its relationship with the university is vital to the local economy.

Raytheon and the university are two of the biggest employers in the city; severing that relationship would result in a lot of people losing jobs and would deny the university a lot of money for funding education, he said.

"Whatever helps to boost our local economy," Collins said.

"It's a good thing that helps out our country," said Libbi Hult, a pre-nursing freshman. "It isn't about supporting the war or not, it's about promoting self-defense."