Kansas University must continue to increase its research volume, while also striving to win the prestigious awards often garnered by humanities faculty, KU’s research chief said Tuesday.

Jim Roberts, KU’s vice provost for research, addressed faculty and others at the university’s first ever Research Convocation on Tuesday.

“We can not escape trying to drive the research volume up-ward,” Roberts said.

Such efforts will improve the quality of the university. But, in response to concerns raised about the place of humanities faculty in research goals, Roberts said the humanities play a vital role in the institution’s mission.

“We’re not about to turn away at all from the humanities,” he said. “I think the humanities in particular represent one of the core strengths of this institution.”

Roberts highlighted research successes and outlined key research areas where KU can be competitive.

Among the high points, Roberts listed the opening of the Hall Center for the Humanities, the receipt of $19 million from the National Science Foundation for the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets, and the renewal of a $10.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for cancer research.

A KU committee, led by former dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Kim Wilcox, focused on scholarship and research efforts for the future.

It identified 15 specific areas of investment that build on KU’s current strengths and help shape the future of KU. These specific areas include global ecology, bioengineering, energy, and the social dimensions of science, technology and engineering.

Roberts said a continuing challenge is space.

The $40 million Multidisciplinary Research Building, informally called “Mr. B,” is expected to be completed in December. It will add 45,000 square feet of interdisciplinary labs and lab support space to west campus.

“Even though we’re building Mr. B, space is going to continue to become an issue,” Roberts said.

One audience member asked whether any areas on KU’s west campus will remain undeveloped.

Chancellor Bob Hemenway said west campus is owned by the KU Endowment Association.

“It’s specifically there to create an opportunity for expansion for the university,” he said, adding that the density on west campus won’t be the same as that of the main campus.

Provost David Shulenburger said KU’s research mission has been elevated in recent years.

“It really deserves a convocation of its own,” he said. “This is in some sense giving the research its due.”