Georgia Pacific West Inc. recently donated an electron microscope to Western Washington University. This donation will enhance the economic development of Bellingham and many parts of the Puget Sound Basin. It will aid in the research necessary for aerospace, wood products and computer development. For example, an electron microscope was used to detect flaws in the soldering of competer wafer boards.

Gifts such as this will allow our rteion to compete for private and government research grants. These grants formerly went to "U-dub," now will go to "dub-dub-u." Western graduates will find employment in Bellingham or the Puget Sound area as more industries locate here. Some view this development with distain but few of these critics are willing to return to yesteryear.

High-tech industries tend to pollute less than the wood-products industry. Through research, these polluting industries can find ways to reduce their impact on the environment.

If our community is to successfully compete with the Silicon Valley, our universities, industries and governmental agencies must co-operate in research and development. This gift will give our community the ability to attract non-polluting industries, which will allow our standard of living and quality of life to improve.
Sheila L Richardson
Bellingham