Projects
Granulation of Algal-Bacterial Consortia for Enhanced CO2 Capture and Resource Recovery
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
Management of the nitrogen (N) cycle was identified by the National Academy of Engineering as one of the grand challenges of the 21st century. Conventional biological N removal processes require high O2 demand for nitrification and high electron donor requirements for denitrification. In addition, the production of artificial fertilizer accounts for a significant amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emission in food production. Harnessing nitrogen from wastewater, especially from agricultural wastewater, has the potential to drawdown the GHG emission in waste management and food production.
Impact of Aerosol Chemistry on Influenza Virus Stability during Airborne Transmission
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
Influenza viruses cause significant disease and spread between people via aerosols; however, the behavior of influenza viruses in aerosols is poorly understood (Fig. 1). By combining the expertise of an influenza transmission scientist and an aerosol chemist, we will determine the relationship between particle chemistry and stability of an influenza virus in an aerosol particle. These findings will provide fundamental knowledge on how environmental conditions in closed environments such as hospitals or airplanes could be modified to limit influenza transmission.
Integrating Internet of Things (IoT) And Satellite Observation into Localized Weather Forecast for Urban Heat Island and Heat Wave
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
One of the significant aspects of climate change is the globally rising temperature. Extreme heat events, including heatwaves and urban heat island, are producing life-threatening conditions, overheating rivers, plants, and wildlife. Localized weather can be quite different from the regional weather forecast. Localized heat forecast can help identify the regions which are prone to overheating and target warnings to citizens on potential heatwaves and provide aid to residents in time.
Laser Synthesis for Control of Water Splitting Catalyst Structure and Performance
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
The electrolysis of water for hydrogen fuel production is a green alternative for the conversion and storage of electric energy when compared to traditional fossil fuels. This mechanism involves two reactions: the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Due to the high overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the practical cell voltage is within 1.8 to 2.0 V.
Lifecycle Analysis Design Framework for Sustainable Energy Infrastructure
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
Infrastructure production, including the acquisition or synthesis of material feedstocks, processing feedstocks into needed forms, transportation, assembly, finishing, maintenance, and reclamation at the end of life represents a major portion of our global carbon emissions. Large-scale additive manufacturing (AM) using 3D printing offers a new approach for the creation of sustainable physical infrastructure by allowing complex objects to be custom fabricated onsite, while potentially reducing transportation costs and streamlining the entire construction process.
Linking Environmental Toxicants to Neurodegenerative Processes
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
While the increase in life expectancy globally is a welcome trend, increases in age-related neurodegenerative disease will be one of the fastest growing sources of disability and societal burden. Growing evidence generated from cell, animal, and epidemiological studies supports the etiological role of environmental agents, such as pesticides [e.g., paraquat (PQ)] and metals [e.g., manganese (Mn)] in parkinsonian syndromes, a group of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Making Connections and Exploring Associations Between Food Insecurity, Disordered Eating, and Climate Anxiety in College Students
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
We will be collecting data from college students at Penn State Behrend examining the relationship among food insecurity, disordered eating, and climate anxiety. Previous studies show that food insecure populations are more likely to experience psychological stress, meal skipping, and other irregular eating patterns, weight change, depression/depression symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness making food insecurity a potential risk factor for eating disorders (Barry et al., 2021; Hazzard et al., 2022).
Mapping Legal Liability from Power Market Decarbonization Policies by African Governments
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
African governments are pursuing ambitious renewable energy integration reforms. However, the policy framework to catalyze this new investment is being held back by the potential for any regulatory/tax reforms to trigger financial liabilities under legacy privately developed thermal power project agreements. To date, there has not been a comprehensive analysis of these legacy liabilities or options for mitigation.
Marketing Agriculture-Based Ecosystem Services: Determining Consumer Willingness to Pay for Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
Both industry and consumers are increasingly recognizing the role and importance of ecosystem services, as evidenced by groups like the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC). The ESMC is a collaboration of private companies, NGOs, and researchers working to launch a national scale, agriculture-based ecosystem services market by 2022.
Mycelium-Based Bio-Composites in Architecture: A Biodegradable and Renewable Alternative to Construction
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
Mycelium-based bio-composites are bio-materials that are sustainable, biodegradable and can be grown with locally available resources. By implementing these materials in temporary and/or low-rise masonry constructions as alternatives for conventional masonry units, it would be possible to decrease the amount of waste produced by the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, but also reduce carbon emission.
Reconstructing the History of Thermal and Sediment Anomalies in the Resilience of Coral in the Cartagena Bay, Colombia
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
This research will provide insights into how corals respond to global and local anthropogenic disturbances, historically and in the present. We will use ancient DNA (aDNA) methods to monitor how corals respond to the impact of long-term anthropogenic activities at Varadero reef, a preeminent coral study site off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia. At this site, the man-made Canal Cartagena Varadero del Dique feeds approximately 144 × 10^6tons of suspended solids onto the Orbicella faveolata coral in Cartagena Bay each year.
Renewable Energy Art and Design
Awarded: 2020 | Project Type: IEE Seed Grant
The groundbreaking of the Penn State Solar Farm in Franklin County signaled an advance in renewable energy use that both saved energy costs and lowered greenhouse gas emissions by Penn State. Clean energy will make a positive impact not only on the Penn State community but also inform residents of the state how to avoid climate change. However, there are still persistent needs to promote the awareness of our energy usage and the impact of our energy choices.