For most of the 20th Century, Mississippi State University was best known for its agricultural and veterinary programs, a point of pride for a state with strong ties to farming and industries such as poultry and commercial livestock industries.
That reputation was not without its detractors, of course. MSU folks have heard the catcall of “Moo U.” and “Cow College” for decades.
But even the university’s most bitter rivals must confess that MSU’s reputation as a research institution has gone far, far beyond the general field of “what’s for dinner?”
Over the past 30 years, the university has expanded its research into an impressive array of disciplines, everything from meteorology and space sciences at its Stennis Space Center on the Coast to the automobile industry, where research is conducted at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Studies (CAVS). That facility is located on the sprawling, 270-plus acre Thad Cochran Research Center, which in its 30 years has expanded the university’s research efforts to dozens of fields. Much of that research is done in partnership with industry-leading companies throughout the country.
The Park has also served as a business incubator, with start-up companies as tenants.
With one of the world’s fastest super-computing systems, the university continues to build upon its reputation as one of the country’s top research universities.
Since 2010, the Carnegie Foundation has recognized MSU with its top classification of “very high research activity university,” the only university in the state to earn that distinction and one of just 108 universities nationwide to have earned that honor.
Each year, hundreds of millions of dollars is invested in the wide-ranging research efforts at Mississippi State.
That’s a far cry the old “Cow College” days of the 20th century.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.