<p>Cue7,</p>
<p>I cited MIT because you mentioned that STEM programs needed a lot of money. MIT is not as rich as Harvard (on the paper) but it is as good as Harvard in the natural sciences and may be better in the engineering.</p>
<p>I think we are on the same page that Chicago needs more money (a lot of) to catch up or to advance its goal to be a major research university in the world on many fronts. As you have mentioned past Chicago fundraising practices were not very successful (I am not familiar with them) so I am thinking there may be other ways to achieve its long term goal if the fundraising is not as successful as expected.</p>
<p>E.g., Chicago is managing two national labs which are doing research on basic sciences, materials, energy, computing (5th fastest computer on the planet last year I heard), etc. I do not know how the labs work with researchers. Since Chicago has some unique advantages there and may exploit them. Is it possible for Chicago’s faculty and students to do research there (more frequently if already)? </p>
<p>Or it gets more grants like this</p>
<p><a href=“University of Chicago to share in $540 million gift from Ludwig Cancer Research | University of Chicago News”>http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/01/06/university-chicago-share-540-million-gift-ludwig-cancer-research</a></p>