AGP Executive Report

Clean Energy Workforce: Pine Ridge’s Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center, recently honored nationally, is training Native American adults for solar-industry jobs—building on a program that began with a homemade solar furnace. AI and Society: USD will host a free Oct. 28 panel where faculty from humanities and media fields explore AI’s possibilities, limits and ethical questions. Severe-Storm Research: A new U.S. hail study involving more than 70 scientists from 15 institutions examines risks expected to grow with climate change; South Dakota’s Vivian still holds records for the largest-diameter and heaviest hailstones. Biotech: South Dakota-based Medgene and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research are partnering on a vaccine against New World screwworm in cattle. Neutrino Science: South Dakota Mines researchers celebrated a Nobel Prize connected to the IceCube neutrino project.

AI & Humanities: USD will host an Oct. 28 panel on AI’s possibilities, limits and ethical impact, with faculty from English, history, journalism, philosophy and the library. Digital Forensics: USD police hosted regional training that included a federal course on digital evidence, building local expertise and partnerships among public-safety agencies. Severe Weather Research: A $11 million, 70-plus-scientist effort has delivered the first major U.S. hail study in more than 40 years. The work matters in South Dakota, where Vivian holds national records for the largest-diameter and heaviest hailstones. Neutrino Science: South Dakota Mines researchers marked the Nobel Prize connected to the IceCube neutrino project, underscoring the state’s role in major physics research. Agricultural Biotech: New vaccine efforts target poultry respiratory disease and cattle screwworm, including a partnership between South Dakota-based Medgene and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research.

Poultry Vaccine Research: A $250,000 partnership involving South Dakota State University is accelerating vaccine work against avian metapneumovirus, a respiratory disease threatening poultry producers. Researchers are testing vaccine delivery methods and a U.S.-developed candidate. Neutrino Science: South Dakota Mines researchers are celebrating the Nobel Prize awarded to IceCube project scientist Francis Halzen. Mines contributes to the South Pole observatory, which detects high-energy particles from deep space. Mapping Technology: A new satellite- and GPS-based national mapping system was unveiled at Mount Rushmore, with officials citing benefits for agriculture, transportation and navigation.

Particle Physics: South Dakota Mines researchers are celebrating IceCube collaborator Francis Halzen’s 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics. Mines scientists have contributed to the South Pole observatory, including by installing telescopes to study cosmic rays. Mapping Technology: A new National Spatial Reference System, unveiled at Mount Rushmore, uses satellite and GPS technology to improve positioning and mapping—tools officials say can benefit agriculture, transportation and infrastructure planning. Science Education: South Dakota Mines marked National Chemistry Week with flame tests, giving eighth-graders a hands-on look at how metals produce different colors when heated. Local Innovation: A Mitchell couple has turned basement mushroom growing into a small business. Electrical engineer Adam Fenski uses his skills to build and refine the controlled growing systems.

STEM Education: Lake Area Technical College and Northern State University have created a pathway for technical graduates to earn a bachelor’s degree in career and technical education, with up to 90 credits transferable. The agreement aims to help address a shortage of qualified teachers. Energy Technology: Yankton County approved a 12-month pause on permits for large electricity-storage facilities while officials study siting, safety and emergency-response rules. Mapping Innovation: At Mount Rushmore, federal officials unveiled an updated national positioning system using satellite and GPS data, replacing older ground-based measurements. Agricultural Biotech: South Dakota-based Medgene and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research are investing nearly $500,000 to develop and test a vaccine against New World screwworm in cattle. STEM Access: South Dakota Mines will nearly double merit scholarship awards for incoming freshmen starting in fall 2027, with top awards rising to $12,000 annually.

Energy Storage: Yankton County approved a 12-month moratorium on permits for energy storage facilities larger than 1 megawatt-hour while officials study their economic, environmental and safety impacts. STEM Education: South Dakota Mines is nearly doubling merit scholarships for incoming freshmen starting in fall 2027, with its top award rising to $12,000 a year. Agricultural Biotechnology: South Dakota-based Medgene and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research are investing nearly $500,000 to develop and test a cattle vaccine against New World screwworm. Mapping Technology: Officials unveiled a satellite- and GPS-based modernization of the National Spatial Reference System at Mount Rushmore, updating the infrastructure used for precise positioning and surveying. Underground Physics: UK teams have completed more than half of their detector panels for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment at South Dakota’s Sanford Underground Research Facility, advancing a major effort to study neutrinos.

Precision Mapping: NOAA announced a new national coordinate system at Mount Rushmore, designed to improve location accuracy for surveying, logistics and autonomous vehicles. The upgrade could be ready in three to four months. Cybersecurity Talent: Sanford Health is giving Dakota State University $1 million for computer science and cybersecurity students’ scholarships, internships, research and competitions. The fund starts in fall 2027, with preference for South Dakota high school graduates. Neutrino Research: UK teams have completed more than half of their detector panels for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment at South Dakota’s Sanford Underground Research Facility. The panels will help researchers investigate neutrinos, elusive particles that could reveal more about the universe. Data-Center Debate: Sioux Falls data centers are facing new regulatory review, as local candidates weigh their effects on power use and infrastructure.

Location Technology: NOAA announced a new national coordinate system at Mount Rushmore, designed to improve location accuracy for services such as navigation, logistics and autonomous vehicles. The upgrade could be ready in three to four months. Conservation Science: Thunder Valley CDC released 50 bison onto nearly 40,000 acres of leased tribal land in the Stronghold area, advancing restoration on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Water Research: At its Vermillion meeting, the Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition examined how sediment is reducing reservoir capacity, including at Lewis and Clark Lake, and discussed water-injection dredging underway at a Kansas reservoir. Cybersecurity Education: Sanford Health’s $1 million gift to Dakota State University will fund scholarships and hands-on opportunities in computer science and cybersecurity, with support available beginning in fall 2027.

Clean-Fuel Technology: South Dakota biofuel producer POET supplied bioethanol for the first in-service U.S. bunkering of the fuel aboard a Maersk ship, testing a lower-emission option for maritime transport. Edge Computing: Dakota State University will name its esports arena for Thermo Bond Solutions, which builds compact data-center infrastructure designed to bring computing power to rural communities. Research and Monitoring: USD announced a Governor’s Research in Aging Center of Excellence, while a new weather station in Lead expands South Dakota’s mesonet network. Construction Innovation: Work continues on South Dakota’s first 3D-printed building at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

AI Infrastructure: Dakota State University will name its esports arena for Thermo Bond Solutions, whose compact concrete data-center vaults are designed to bring AI computing closer to users, including in rural communities. AI Skills: Western Dakota Tech hosted a hands-on workshop in Rapid City, teaching beginners to write prompts and build custom chatbots using local documents and other specific sources. Health Research: USD announced a Governor’s Research in Aging Center of Excellence, adding to South Dakota’s research capacity in aging. Weather Science: A new station in Lead expands the state’s Mesonet network, strengthening local weather monitoring. Data Centers: Sioux Falls data centers are facing new regulatory review as the city considers how to oversee the fast-growing facilities.

AI Training: Western Dakota Tech and COMPASS Partners held a hands-on workshop in Rapid City, teaching beginners to write prompts and build custom chatbots using local resources. Aging Research: USD is leading a new statewide center bringing together five universities to develop fall-prevention and mobility supports for older South Dakotans, combining biomedical engineering, movement science, AI and public health. 3D-Printed Construction: Work continues at Ellsworth on South Dakota’s first 3D-printed building. Weather Monitoring: A new station in Lead expands the state’s mesonet network, adding local weather data. Agricultural Research: SDSU Swine Day featured student research and industry insights on disease risks, feed costs and herd health.

Aging Research: USD will lead a new statewide center bringing together five universities to develop fall-prevention and mobility support for older South Dakotans. The center will combine biomedical engineering, movement science, AI and public health, with sites planned in Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. Advanced Construction: Ellsworth Air Force Base is building South Dakota’s first 3D-printed structure, a facility intended to support training and test the technology for military use. Weather Monitoring: A new station in Lead expands South Dakota’s growing Mesonet network. Data Infrastructure: Sioux Falls data centers are facing a new regulatory review as local officials consider oversight of the projects. Health Research: Sanford Health received a $2.3 million NIH grant, while USD named a new Sanford Research president.

Aging & Health Research: A new USD-led Governor’s Research in Aging Center will unite five South Dakota universities to develop fall-prevention support, combining movement science, biomedical engineering, AI and public health, with hubs planned in Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. Defense Innovation: Ellsworth Air Force Base is advancing South Dakota’s first 3D-printed building, a project testing the technology for military facilities and field operations. Farm & Materials Science: A South Dakota Mines researcher is exploring how farm waste could become an alternative to plastic, while a new weather station in Lead adds to the state’s growing mesonet network. Data Center Oversight: Sioux Falls is facing new regulatory review of data centers, as communities weigh the infrastructure and local impacts of large-scale computing projects.

Aging Research: The University of South Dakota will lead a five-university center developing ways to prevent falls and help older South Dakotans stay independent. The effort combines movement science, biomedical engineering and AI, with hubs planned in Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. Advanced Construction: Ellsworth Air Force Base is building South Dakota’s first 3D-printed building, a facility designed to test the technology for military use. Climate and Agriculture: A new weather station in Lead expands South Dakota’s growing Mesonet network, while a South Dakota Mines researcher is exploring how farm waste could become a plastic alternative. Science and Infrastructure: The Sanford Underground Research Facility’s LZ experiment reported an unexpected interaction in its search for dark matter. Sioux Falls data centers also face a new regulatory review as communities weigh the technology’s local impacts.

Research Leadership: USD pediatrician Michelle Baack has been named president of Sanford Research, where she will guide scientific strategy and work to bring discoveries into patient care across the health system’s large rural footprint. Hands-On STEM: A new Washington Pavilion exhibit in Sioux Falls invites children ages 2–8 to explore homebuilding through play at the Kirby Science Discovery Center. Data-Center Debate: McCook County is weighing whether to explicitly bar data centers in its zoning rules after landowners were approached about a possible project near Montrose; Sioux Falls data centers are also facing a new regulatory review. South Dakota Innovation: A South Dakota Mines researcher is exploring farm waste as a source for a potential plastic alternative, while a new weather station in Lead expands the state’s Mesonet network. Research and Training: Sanford Health received a $2.3 million NIH grant, and Mitchell Tech secured $945,000 to expand skilled-trades training.

Data Center Oversight: McCook County is weighing an explicit zoning ban after land inquiries raised concerns about a possible data center near Montrose; Sioux Falls data centers are also facing new regulatory review. Weather Science: A new station in Lead is expanding South Dakota’s Mesonet network, adding local weather-monitoring capacity. Research and Materials: A South Dakota Mines researcher is exploring how farm waste could become a plastic alternative, while an SDSU study examines the human networks behind prairie restoration. Health Research: Sanford Health received a $2.3 million NIH grant, bringing new federal support for research in South Dakota.