CMMS Announces New Midstream Information Pathfinder

Lamar University’s Center for Midstream Management and Science (“CMMS” or “Midstream Center”) has just activated the new and unique Midstream Information Pathfinder on the Research page of its website, www.lamar.edu/midstream. This tool, developed in concert with LU’s Mary and John Gray Library as part of the CMMS Midstream Information Clearing House concept, enables a user to efficiently search for published research papers on virtually all midstream-centric topics at the click of a button. A user will define search criteria and be rewarded with titles, abstracts, and links to the publisher of each listed paper where it can be obtained from the copyright owner. Instead of trying to identify, access, and search multiple scientific, subscription enabled databases to find midstream relevant research papers, a user can now access most published midstream work via a single portal. In developing this tool, a portfolio of over 12,900 midstream relevant research papers were identified in multiple scientific databases. At no cost to a user, the Midstream Information Pathfinder will identify relevant research papers, provide abstracts, and a link to the owner of the papers where the user can purchase them.

Development of the Midstream Information Pathfinder came about because of the direct support of Dr. Arne Almquist, Ph.D., Vice President of Information Management and Decision Support at LU and Dean of the Mary and John Gray Library. On hearing about CMMS’ desire to investigate and develop this industry focused research tool, Dr. Almquist brought in Michael Saar, Associate Dean of the Mary and John Gray Library and Head, Instructional Services and Assessment, to discuss and better define the project. Once the project was deemed viable, Mr. Saar volunteered to be project leader to work with the Midstream Center to develop the plan, timeline, budget, and conduct a search for, and manage, the library sciences contractor who would mine the research world for midstream-centric research papers. Mr. Saar’s leadership of this year long project working with the Midstream Center represents an outstanding example of Lamar University’s Stronger Together program in action with two seemingly unrelated LU organizations coming together to develop something new in the marketplace to serve both academia and the midstream industry.

Almquist, Kalb & Saar

Words from the Leadership Team

Thomas Kalb, Director of CMMS said “As a sometimes industry consumer of academic research during my 40-year career, I occasionally needed to find an answer that was hidden somewhere in academic research literature – and it was an almost impossible task. On arrival at LU, I began to ask around about creating a tool something like the Midstream Information Pathfinder and found Dr. Almquist and then Mr. Saar, and then the solution – an outstanding and efficient solution that is already gaining industry interest.”

Dr. Almquist commented “Tom brought me this idea and it seemed to have conceptual merit, and, with Mike, we investigated and thought we had a winner. We had never done a joint project like this one before and are very happy with the outcome and its clear demonstration of LU’s Stronger Together program.”

Mr. Saar said “When I was brought in on the discussion, I was initially excited by the prospect of the project. As I stepped into the role of project lead my excitement for its potential grew even more. In the end, it was all about the team we put together and through some hard work found success for CMMS, the Library, LU, and industry”.