Water Purification, Homeland Security, Biofuels Research Among Projects Funded by SUNY Networks of Excellence
SUNY and the Research Foundation for SUNY today announced the first round of funding for projects supported by the SUNY Networks of Excellence. The RF awarded $778,000 to 19 projects involving 14 campuses as part of the “SUNY 4E” Network, which fosters collaborative research in the areas of energy, the environment, economics, and education.
“The Networks of Excellence connect SUNY’s brightest student and faculty scientists with new York’s private sector experts, as well as national labs, to support the commercialization of our most promising and effective strategies,” said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. “By sharing knowledge, facilities, and ideas in these critical areas of research, the networks are driving innovation, economic opportunity, and job growth across the state.”
“Today’s awards are an exciting glimpse at what’s to come from the five SUNY Networks of Excellence,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “From the purification of drinking water to the assessment of homeland security, SUNY and its partners across the state are increasing sustainability in our communities and improving the quality of life in New York State. Congratulations to all of the partners receiving this support.”
Projects to be funded include:
- Examination of the Genesee River watershed to ensure drinking water quality, adequate cooling water for power production and industrial processing, and opportunities for ecotourism; (University at Buffalo, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the College at Brockport)
- Investigating the potential impacts that unconventional natural gas production has on the state’s water resources; (University at Buffalo, Binghamton University)
- Planning collaborative projects that will establish a biofuels research and education partnership across SUNY; (SUNY Geneseo, Alfred State College, Monroe Community College)
- A comprehensive assessment of homeland security through a SUNY-wide workshop that includes researchers, government, and non-profit agencies engaged in research, training, and program management of homeland security “outside the Beltway”; (University at Albany, University at Buffalo, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering)
- Connecting SUNY faculty with middle school social studies teachers in the Southern Tier to focus on research-based learning and writing related to energy production and smart buildings; (SUNY Fredonia, SUNY New Paltz, Jamestown Community College)
More information, and a detailed abstract for all 19 projects that were funded, is available online.
Dr. Tim Killeen, president of the RF and SUNY vice chancellor for research, said, “The number of faculty, researchers, and campuses submitting proposals for the Networks highlights the active brain trust at work across the SUNY research community. The network platform is an ambitious approach to assembling new knowledge and encourages participation of all interested faculty, not only those of the teams awarded funding.”
More than 300 faculty and researchers have submitted more than 80 proposals since September. Proposals were awarded funding following a competitive external peer review process.
SUNY 4E is one of four SUNY Networks of Excellence announced by Governor Cuomo in September with the goal of increasing research collaborations and spurring commercialization activities between SUNY and industry partners in core research areas. The others are SUNY Brain, SUNY Health, and SUNY Materials and Advanced Manufacturing. A fifth network, SUNY Arts and Humanities, was announced in January, at Chancellor Zimpher’s State of the University Address.
