05:05 PM PST on Friday, January 30, 2004

Associated Press

SPOKANE – Washington State University will extend its internationally recognized Institute for Shock Physics to Spokane.

A $6.5 million grant from the Office of Naval Research will support research to be conducted under the auspices of the new Applied Sciences Laboratory, with operations in Spokane and Pullman.

The institute, established with Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration support, is a multidisciplinary research organization that conducts fundamental research in shock-wave and high-pressure compression of matter.

The Spokane lab will emphasize scientific and technical activities at WSU's Riverpoint campus here that are different from, but build on, the fundamental research of the Pullman institute.

The new laboratory in Spokane, will undertake contract research for federal government agencies and private corporations.