Energize New Mexico

在这个为期五年的项目中，新墨西哥州刺激竞争性研究实验计划（NM EPSCoR）解决了一个具有巨大潜力的总体问题，该问题将改变新墨西哥州的研究并促进可持续能源发展：新墨西哥州如何以可持续的方式实现其能源发展潜力？该项目的愿景是双重的：首先，建立和加强科学企业，使挪威能够利用其丰富的可再生能源（如太阳能和生物燃料），并可持续地利用地热和铀储备等其他资源，而不会对环境和水资源产生不利影响；第二，提高该州的科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）管道和研发能力，从而在该州的人力和地理多样性以及智力资本的基础上创造新的商业和产业。该提案的主要参与者是新墨西哥大学、新墨西哥矿业技术学院和新墨西哥州立大学。其他合作伙伴包括：新墨西哥东部大学主校区、圣达菲社区学院、圣达菲研究所、Explora！美国国家核科学与历史博物馆，以及新墨西哥自然历史博物馆基金会。该项目旨在推动NM的能源发展，将基础科学和应用科学与工程相结合。这项研究使新技术能够扩展到商业上可行的企业规模。资源利用研究的重点是：(1)在藻类生态学、生理学、农业和生物质过程工程方面产生支持下一代生物燃料生产的新知识；(2)创造更高效的太阳能收集和光伏设备，以及开发甲醇作为替代传统化石燃料衍生碳氢化合物的可运输燃料；(3)解决与膜特性和污染相关的科学和工程挑战，这些挑战目前阻碍渗透压力系统在商业上可行。研究结果使工业界能够更好地利用NM丰富的阳光、大量的咸淡水含水层以及油气行业大量的高盐度采出水。实现NM可持续能源的未来需要一套完整和平衡的采掘能源和可再生能源，这些能源是社会可接受的，水资源可实现的，对环境无害的。更广泛的影响Energize NM项目支持多样化、跨学科和机构间的伙伴关系，包括国家实验室、工业、教育（包括社区和部落学院）和其他利益相关者。此外，项目活动从整体上解决了清洁能源挑战。研究成果通过用户友好的网络基础设施、创新的教育和劳动力发展计划以及广泛的利益相关者参与活动进行交流。项目活动旨在吸引研究型大学、部落和社区学院的教师，并通过培训教师、本科生和研究生以及博士后来支持STEM管道。项目成果通过与NM的博物馆网络、以公民为中心的门户网站以及针对K-12学生的体验项目的新合作伙伴关系进行广泛传播。

In this five-year project, New Mexico Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NM EPSCoR) addresses one overarching question that has great potential to transform research in NM and to promote sustainable energy development: How can NM realize its energy development potential in a sustainable manner? The vision for the project is two-fold: first, to build and strengthen the scientific enterprise that will enable NM to harness its abundant renewable energy resources (e.g., solar energy and biofuels), and sustainably capitalize on other resources such as geothermal and uranium reserves, without adversely affecting the environment and water resources; and, second, to improve the state's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pipeline and research and development capacity, thus creating new businesses and industry that build upon the state's human and geographic diversity and intellectual capital. The major participants in this proposal are the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, and New Mexico State University. Other partners include: Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus, Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe Institute, Explora!, the Global Center for Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship, the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation.Intellectual MeritThis project aims to further NM's energy development, integrating basic and applied science and engineering. The research is enabling new technologies to be expanded to commercially viable enterprise scales. Resource utilization research focuses on: (1) generating new knowledge in algal ecology, physiology, agriculture and biomass process engineering that supports next generation biofuel production; (2) creating more efficient solar energy harvesting and photovoltaic devices, as well as developing methanol as a transportable fuel alternative to conventional fossil fuel-derived hydrocarbons; and (3) solving scientific and engineering challenges related to membrane properties and fouling that currently prevent osmotic pressure systems from becoming commercially viable. Results are enabling industry to make better use of NM's abundant sunshine, large brackish water aquifers, and vast quantities of high salinity produced waters from the oil and gas industry. Achieving a sustainable energy future for NM requires a complete and balanced suite of extractive and renewable energy sources that are socially adoptable, water-resource achievable, and environmentally benign.Broader ImpactsThe Energize NM project supports diverse, interdisciplinary, and inter-institutional partnerships that include national laboratories, industry, education (including community and tribal colleges), and other stakeholders. Additionally, the project activities holistically address clean energy challenges. Research results are communicated via user-friendly cyberinfrastructure, innovative education and workforce development programs, and broad-ranging stakeholder engagement activities. Project activities are designed to engage faculty from research universities, and tribal and community colleges, and support the STEM pipeline by training teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows. Project outcomes are communicated broadly through new partnerships with NM's museum network, a citizen-centric web portal, and experiential programs targeting K-12 students.