COEUR d'ALENE - Molecular neurobiologist Charles R. Buck has only been the center executive officer for the North Idaho-Coeur d'Alene extension center for the University of Idaho a couple of days, but he has hit the ground running.

"I want to develop a passion for a start-up mentality here, and want to make an impact on our community," Buck said.

Buck believes that in order for businesses starting up - and for current businesses - to thrive, they need to remain viable and adopt newer technologies in order to compete with their rivals.

During his time here, Buck hopes to get rid of the perception that people of academia and people with degrees are "wait and see" type of people, but actually are people who get stuff done, with a "pioneer mentality."

This mentality is the entrepreneur mentality, where new ideas, and adopting to the change will greatly help research and ultimately help the community, Buck said.

"The reason we do research is to solve real-world problems," Buck said. "For the university to survive, we have to change."

University of Idaho's president, M. Duane Nellis, voiced much of the same mentality.

"I came here with an attitude of controlling our own destiny," Nellis said. "We've got an attitude of how we can change for the better."

Both Nellis and Buck agree the University of Idaho is in a perfect set-up to achieve the goals they set out in the 2011 Leadership Tour: to be globally competitive in every aspect, including research and learning opportunities; to connect the communities that are around the U of I campus; and to make the learning environment as engaging and student-centered as possible.

"The table is set for that success, and now it's time to go ahead and chow down," Buck said.

While here in Coeur d'Alene, Buck plans on focusing on three main things, two of which he said are already set up.

He wants to focus on the importance and the impact of water quality. The other main focus point will be geo-spacial information coordination.

Buck wants to coordinate a plan to develop the geo-spacial industry. An example of how geo-spacial information is vital, is to collect data on wind speeds at certain locations. This data will show where placing windmills to produce energy will be most effective.

Yet, the one area that Buck really wants to hit home while he is here, is connecting entrepreneurship and its importance with the university.

"It's that pioneer mentality, if we are going to make it work out, we have to go out and do it ourselves," Buck said.

A native of Caldwell, Buck, earned his bachelor of science degree from the College of Idaho located in Caldwell, and a doctorate in molecular neurobiology from Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Buck has held positions at Purdue, Oridis Biomed in Austria, University of South Carolina, and at Emory University School of Medicine.

Nellis believes Buck will make a fine addition to the extension center here in Coeur d'Alene.

"As Idaho's only land-grant university, we owe each region the best we can provide. That's why I'm excited about the selection of Charles Buck for this leadership position in northern Idaho," Nellis said. "His work will be essential in building community relations; enhancing enrollment; assessing community needs; bridging to the public and private sectors; linking with our regional extension offices; facilitating research; and being a liaison with the main campus."

Over the past two years, the University of Idaho has had its two largest freshman classes, has earned a $90 million competitive research funding and has doubled its student service learning project to 3,800 students. One such project earned them a national award.

"Two years ago we heard from our communities that we had gone away from our roots, and we need to think differently," Nellis said. "I believe we have reclaimed our roots as a land-grant university."