Contact: Timothy McKernan, (619) 594-2588; mckernan@mail.sdsu.edu

Assembly Committee Evaluates New Technology at SDSU to Link U.S. and Mexico

San Diego, CA, July 23, 1999 ­ On the heels of the May agreement between California Governor Gray Davis and Mexican President Zedillo to develop stronger relationships across the U.S.-Mexico border, members of the Governor's office, the California State Assembly's Select Committee on California-Mexico Affairs and the State Senate will visit San Diego State University today to get a preview of technologies that could forge new transborder links between universities, governments and business.

SDSU faculty will demonstrate projects that can serve as templates for future collaborations, such as capturing, sharing and evaluating seismic data and a telemedicine project for rural clinics in Mexico. Lawmakers will also evaluate the feasibility of a proposed videoconferencing project to link California's 80 assembly districts with Sacramento.

"The committee is exploring many of the ways that technology can impact the region," said Dr. Robert Pozos, assistant dean of SDSU's College of Sciences. "They want to see how it works then develop a legislative agenda to help facilitate its use among the transborder academic, business and government communities. SDSU could become the center of that effort."

SDSU has already established online ties to Mexico in its capacity as a leader of the Virtual Learning Space Project, an international partnership linking major universities with public and private companies in a variety of research and development projects. The assembly members are interested in adapting the technology to other areas including government and commerce in addition to education.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded as a teacher-training program in 1897, it has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 74 areas, master's degrees in 55 areas and doctorates in 10. The more than 30,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with professors and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future.

# # #