Collaborative Research: IRES Track I: Materials based innovations for sustainable water treatment and reuse

这个IRES合作项目为美国学生提供了与法国蒙彼利埃大学和欧洲膜研究所的同事以及来自扩展的国际网络的合作伙伴合作从事水科学和工程研究的机会。研究项目侧重于科学上有意义的挑战，以开发用于水处理和再利用的新材料和技术。该项目利用了美国和国际合作者的互补技能和资源；在国际上使用独特的分析仪器、水处理设施和材料制造技术，如果没有IRES的联系，就不可能进行研究。为期13周的IRES体验包括在法国实验室进行为期9周的研究，每位美国学生由美国pi和一位国际导师共同监督。这些项目旨在强调人类与水的关系问题，为IRES增添了独特的跨学科品质。该项目的最终目标是在不同的IRES学生群体中培养全球，技术和专业能力。参与者在专业和个人方面受益于该计划；他们在IRES的经历使他们具备了在日益全球化的世界中取得成功的基本技能，因为他们将自己的知识和激情投入到解决关键的环境挑战中。这个IRES项目的重点是培训下一代美国水工程师与国际合作伙伴合作，克服限制获得安全和负担得起的水的障碍和挑战。参与研究的机构包括两所美国大学（路易斯安那州立大学和密歇根州立大学）及其来自法国蒙彼利埃大学和欧洲膜研究所的同事。每年的项目，美国学生将前往蒙彼利埃参与合作项目，桥梁和利用独特的资源和专业知识的美国pi和他们的外国合作者。合作努力利用了两个领域的互补技能，这些领域对环境工程实践具有持续的科学兴趣和相关性：光化学过程和膜分离。项目集中在这两个相互关联的主题上，通过说明合作的价值和现代环境工程固有的跨学科性质，产生研究协同效应，丰富学生的经验。IRES的研究重点包括：1)光催化降解医院废水中的药物；2)新型UV-LED光催化废水处理技术；3)病毒灭活光催化膜；4)水处理用天然混凝剂；5)通过全球交流活动进行人力能力建设。前四个是学生研究项目，第五个是一系列分享活动，重点是发展全球能力和最佳实践，如实验室安全和研究伦理。路易斯安那州立大学和密歇根州立大学的夏季本科生研究项目旨在鼓励代表性不足的群体参与IRES项目，启动学生的研究课题，并在我们的实验室为他们提供必要的出发前培训。这一招生策略旨在为过去没有类似国际经历的学生消除社会经济障碍。该项目利用法国同事广泛的国际网络，进一步拓宽美国学生的国际经验。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This collaborative IRES project provides U.S. students with opportunities to engage in water science and engineering research in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Montpellier and the European Institute of Membranes in Montpellier, France as well as partners from extended international networks. Research projects focus on scientifically meaningful challenges in order to develop new materials and technologies for water treatment and reuse. The project leverages the complementary skills and resources of U.S. and international collaborators; access to unique analytical instrumentation, water treatment facilities, and materials fabrication technologies at international locations enables research not possible without the IRES linkages. The thirteen-week IRES experience includes a 9-week research stay at French laboratories where each U.S. student is co-supervised by U.S. PIs and an international mentor. The projects are designed to accentuate questions regarding humanity’s relationship with water, adding a unique interdisciplinary quality to the IRES. The ultimate goal of the project is to foster global, technical, and professional competencies in a diverse group of IRES students. Participants benefit from the program professionally and personally; their IRES experience equips them with essential skills for success in the increasingly globalized world as they engage their knowledge and passions to address critical environmental challenges.This IRES project is focused on training the next generation of U.S. water engineers to work collaboratively with international partners and overcome barriers and challenges that limit availability of safe and affordable water. Participating institutions include two U.S. Universities (Louisiana State University and Michigan State University) and their colleagues from the University of Montpellier and the European Institute of Membranes in France. Each year of the program, U.S. students will travel to Montpellier to engage in collaborative projects that bridge and leverage the unique resources and expertise of the U.S. PIs and their foreign collaborators. The collaborative effort takes the advantage of the complementary skill sets in two areas of sustained scientific interest and relevance for environmental engineering practice: photochemical processes and membrane separations. Projects focus on these two interlocking themes to yield research synergies and enrich student experience by illustrating the value of collaboration and the inherently interdisciplinary nature of modern environmental engineering. IRES foci include: 1) Photo-catalyzed degradation of pharmaceuticals in hospital wastewater; 2) Novel UV-LED technology for photocatalytic wastewater treatment; 3) Photocatalytic membranes for inactivation of viruses; 4) Natural coagulants for water treatment; and 5) Human capacity building through global exchange activities. The first four are student research projects and the fifth is a set of sharing activities focused on developing global competencies and best practices such as laboratory safety and research ethics. Summer undergraduate research programs at LSU and MSU are leveraged to encourage the engagement of underrepresented groups into the IRES project, initiate students into research topics and provide them with necessary pre-departure training in our laboratories. The recruitment strategy aims to remove socio-economic hurdles for students who have not had similar international experiences in the past. The project leverages the extensive international network of French colleagues to further broaden international experiences for U.S. students.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.