I³R: A Vision and Dream for the Future

University Relations

Ranu Jung, executive director of the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research

Established by a landmark $194.7 million grant from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research, or I³R, aims to expand the scope of discoveries made by U of A researchers and rapidly move these discoveries to the marketplace, where they can improve or save lives.

Ranu Jung joined the U of A in December 2021 and serves as founding executive director of the institute. She is also an endowed chair, associate vice chancellor and Distinguished Professor of biomedical engineering.

In this month's Short Talks from the Hill podcast, Jung discusses her vision for the institute.

"I³R is a vision; I³R is a dream; I³R is a future," she says in the podcast. "I believe that I³R is, as it says, integrative, bringing all people together, not just within the university, but bringing all our community together, all our stakeholders together, in a common vision, a common dream to grow Northwest Arkansas, to grow the state of Arkansas and to impact the entire nation."

Jung explains how the institute will go beyond fundamental research to strengthen the economy of Arkansas and the nation.

"We are not just about fundamental science, we are actually not even just about translating, but we are actually about closing the chain for making sure there is economic development happening hand in hand. And it doesn't stop at that. We put in place the social structures to be able to have societal impact. We're a land grant university; our commitment is to our people."

To listen to the podcast, click the link above or go to Arkansas Research, the home of research and economic development news at the University of Arkansas.

Short Talks from the Hill highlights research, scholarly work and economic development news. Previous podcasts can be found at the link above or by visiting arkansasresearch.uark.edu.

Thank you for listening!

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