Energize New Mexico

在这个为期五年的项目中，新墨西哥州促进竞争性研究实验计划(NM EPSCoR)解决了一个具有巨大潜力的问题，可以改变NM的研究并促进可持续能源发展：NM如何以可持续的方式实现其能源发展潜力？该项目的愿景有两个方面：第一，建立和加强科学事业，使纽约州能够利用其丰富的可再生能源(如太阳能和生物燃料)，并可持续地利用其他资源，如地热和铀矿储量，而不对环境和水资源产生不利影响；第二，改善该州的科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)管道和研发能力，从而在该州人力和地理多样性以及智力资本的基础上创造新的企业和产业。该提案的主要参与者是新墨西哥大学、新墨西哥矿业与技术学院和新墨西哥州立大学。其他合作伙伴包括：新墨西哥州东部大学主校区、圣达菲社区学院、圣达菲研究所、探索！、全球创意与文化创业中心、国家核科学与历史博物馆和新墨西哥州自然历史基金会博物馆。该项目旨在促进新墨西哥州的能源发展，整合基础科学和应用科学与工程。这项研究正在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)产生支持下一代生物燃料生产的藻类生态、生理、农业和生物质加工工程方面的新知识；(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；以及(3)解决目前阻碍渗透压系统商业化的与膜特性和污染相关的科学和工程挑战。这些成果使工业能够更好地利用北卡罗来纳州充足的阳光、大量的微咸水含水层以及大量来自石油和天然气工业的高盐度产出水。为NM实现可持续的能源未来，需要一套完整和平衡的采掘和可再生能源，这些能源可供社会采用，水资源可用，对环境无害。广泛影响NM项目支持多样化的跨学科和机构间伙伴关系，包括国家实验室、工业、教育(包括社区和部落学院)和其他利益攸关方。此外，项目活动全面应对清洁能源挑战。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研究员来支持STEM渠道。项目成果通过与新墨西哥州博物馆网络的新伙伴关系、以公民为中心的门户网站以及针对K-12学生的体验项目广泛交流。

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.