November 10, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Contact: NMB Public Information Line -- (202) 692-5050

Re: NMB Collaboration with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Washington, D.C. -- The National Mediation Board is pleased to announce that the NMB and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst will be working together for the next three years under a research grant from the National Science Foundation. The NMB strongly supported the grant proposal and will work closely with U Mass throughout the research project.

Faculty from U Mass will work with the NMB to design and conduct research leading to improvements in the use of online dispute resolution (ODR) technology.

NMB mediators will be directly involved in the research, and the NMB will coordinate involvement by airline and railroad carriers and unions. The Board’s ultimate goal for its involvement in the grant and research process is to further the use of ODR technology in Federal sector mediation, and to provide information and tools that will encourage use of appropriate ODR technology generally.

For more information about the NMB’s involvement in the research project, consult the Board’s web site -- www.nmb.gov. The grant announcement from the National Science Foundation and a description of the research project can be found on the NSF web site at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/showaward?award=0429297.

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