Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

A number of Southeastern universities were among 50 that shared in nearly $78 million in funding announced this week by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The 14 projects were awarded funding through the NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) that aims to build research and development capacity and strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education opportunities in states that have traditionally received lower levels of funding. Those projects receiving funding that also involved at least one Southeastern university were:

• Empowering Community Resilience with Sustainable Energy and Water Reuse Systems (Louisiana Tech University) — Using advances in nanomaterials and electrochemistry, this project intends to develop a mobile energy-water reuse system to provide safe and reliable water and energy supplies to disproportionately affected communities impacted by climate change. This project includes partnerships across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nevada.
• Reversing Disproportionate Impacts of Hydroclimatic Extremes in Water-Rich Regions via Justice-Minded Research and Collaborative Adaptation Planning (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) — This project will integrate hydroclimatic modeling and socioeconomic research to develop more equitable climate adaptation and resource allocation strategies for underserved and disadvantaged communities. This project includes partnerships across Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.
• Advancing Climate Neutrality in Farming Communities through Upcycling Natural Fiber Reinforced Fireproof Vitrimer Composites (Southern University) — This project aims to reduce dependence on oil-based synthetic materials by creating novel, high-performance materials from natural fibers and developing sustainable farming methods to grow high-value natural fibers in areas affected by climate change. This project includes partnerships across Louisiana, Delaware, and South Carolina.
• The Flooding in Appalachian Streams and Headwaters Initiative: Mitigating impacts of climate change and flash flooding in Appalachia (University of Louisville, West Virginia University Eastern Kentucky University, Marshall University and University of Kentucky) — This project will engage rural communities in interdisciplinary hydro-related research and technological development to gain basic knowledge of flash flooding, mitigate the impact of flash floods and improve community resilience to climate change. This project includes partnerships across Kentucky and West Virginia.
• Transforming wastes Into Economic Assets for Sustainability, Resilience, and Prosperity by a Novel Negative Emission Technology (University of Alabama, University of Idaho, University of New Mexico and Alabama A&M University) — This project intends to use Negative Emission Technology to convert hazardous industrial wastes into low-cost, low-carbon construction materials, generating economically viable pathways to enhance the climate resilience of disadvantaged communities. This project includes partnerships across Alabama, Idaho, and New Mexico.
• Interdisciplinary Program of Advancing Climate Extreme Resilience in Soybean (University of Alabama at Birmingham, Mississippi State University and Louisiana State University) — This project aims to develop sustainable and climate-smart agricultural solutions to soybean production impacted by extreme heat and drought events that can be applied to other important crops helping to mitigate global food security issues. This project includes partnerships across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
• Risks, Impacts, & Strategies for Coastal Communities: Advancing Convergent Science to Support Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience (University of Delaware, University of Rhode Island and College of Charleston) — By developing climate research, education and workforce development infrastructure, this project will address compounding climate hazards affecting coastal communities, such as flooding and salinization, affecting coastal communities, while increasing scientific literacy and strengthening workforce diversity. This project includes partnerships across Delaware, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

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