West Virginia University President David C. Hardesty Jr. will discuss how cutting-edge research at the states land-grant institution is resulting in job creation across the state during a luncheon speech to the Charleston Rotary at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at the University of Charleston. Accompanying Hardesty will be John Weete, vice president for economic development and research at WVU and president of the WVU Research Corp.

WVU reached an all-time high in funding for research and other sponsored programs this past year, receiving $133.9 million from federal, state, industry and private sourcesup from $88.7 million in FY 2001 . The 51 percent increase represents the highest amount of funding in the history of the University from external sources.

Officials estimate the WVU research enterprise has created 800 new full and part-time jobs as a result of external funding.

Hardesty is also expected to stress the importance of WVU s plan to build a research park in Morgantown. The University is currently seeking $10 million from the state Economic Development Grant Committee to develop sites. The project made the committees first cut and will be discussed at a public hearing Sept. 5. School officials say the research park will be a magnet for high technology businesses interested in locating near a major research university and is expected to create 2,600 jobs