Projects
CoRe at PSU: Growing Cold Regions Research Capabilities at Penn State University
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
A team of researchers is conducting experiments to quantify and understand small-scale erosive processes in thawing permafrost, which will help to develop resilient solutions to the challenges imposed by climate change in cold regions.
Developing Water Treatment Technologies for PFAS Removal in Disadvantaged Communities
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
A team of researchers is evaluating the ability of biochar, moringa seeds, and low-energy membranes to remove PFAS chemicals from drinking water and will provide information to homeowners and Extension partners about the effectiveness and cost of these treatment options.
Exploring the Impacts of Flooding Events on Substance Use in Rural Appalachia
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
Researchers are investigating the impact of flooding events on substance use outcomes and substance use service provision in rural Appalachia, where flooding events are becoming more common due to climate change.
Fungal Upcycling of Waste Plastic Film
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
A research team is investigating the potential of fungal degradation to break down plastic into biologically tractable carbon and will evaluate the impact of this technology at scale.
Impact of CO2 Mineralization on the Evolution of Storage-Rock Microstructure
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
Two researchers are investigating the fundamental link between mineral precipitation and dissolution in porous microstructures and developing a model to predict site-specific assessment and optimization of CO2 injectivity, leakage potential, and ultimate storage or mineralization capacity of underground formations.
Next Generation Floating Offshore Wind Turbine
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
A research team is working to make floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) commercially viable in the near term by creating a turbine with lower overall weight, reduced mechanical loads, and lower buoyancy requirements than existing FOWT designs.
Piloting a Global Youth Storytelling and Research Lab
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
This project is launching The Global Youth Storytelling and Research Lab, which will be a transnational research ecosystem that will engage youth leaders in climate and environmental justice research.
Rational Design of Bio-Inspired and Earth-Abundant Catalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction into Fuels and Fine Chemicals
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
A research team is using computational techniques to design and test earth-abundant iron-based sulfide catalysts for CO2 conversion into fuels and fine chemicals.
Sustainable and Just Pathways to Agrivoltaics in Pennsylvania
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
This project is investigating the social, economic, and environmental impacts of agrivoltaics in Pennsylvania, with the goal of developing best practices for the co-location of solar panels and agriculture.
Understanding Compound Stressors and Stakeholder Tradeoffs of Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in the Colorado River
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
A team of researchers is developing new capabilities in synthetic weather generation and improved agricultural modeling to understand how climate change and agricultural adaptation will affect water availability in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
Understanding the Material Impacts of Restoration on Landscapes and People in Africa: Learning Cases from Malawi
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
This project is developing an integrated methodology to measure the socio-environmental outcomes of forest landscape restoration in Malawi, with the goal of informing policy and practice on restoration monitoring.
Understanding the Scope, Drivers, and Energy Justice Implications of Solar Adoption in the United States Wastewater Sector
Awarded: 2023 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
This project is developing a database of wastewater treatment plants with solar adoption data and a statistical model to explore potential drivers of solar adoption, with the goal of understanding the energy justice implications of renewable energy adoption in the wastewater sector.