The University of Rhode Island is introducing classes in modeling and simulation in 2008 that could lead to a minor and later a major...The technology has applications in defense, medicine, and even "mundane" industries such as home appliance design, according to Stephen Swenson, president of the New England Modeling and Simulation Consortium...

...Swenson met with URI officials over the summer to help plan a program...In New England, a number of schools already have gaming degree programs, including Champlain College in Burlington, Vt.; New England Institute of Technology in Warwick, R.I.; the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, N.H.; Northeastern University; Boston University; Worcester Polytechnic Institute; and Bristol Community College.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy sponsored a bill in December that appropriates $50 million to establish centers of excellence in medical modeling and simulation, and for the use of simulation to train health-care professionals. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Also, a House resolution in July recognized modeling and simulation as a "National Critical Technology."