Delaware EPSCoR: Meeting Delaware's 21st Century Water and Energy Challenges through Research, Education, and Innovation

作为一个沿海州，特拉华州正面临着海平面上升的前景及其对自然和建筑景观的影响，从潮汐湿地到农业用地，再到人口稠密和污染严重的城市地区。因此，该项目通过四个跨学科的研究主题来解决水和能源的可持续性问题，这些主题结合了工程学、社会科学和自然科学：海平面上升对污染物流动和循环的影响；土地利用和气候变化对水和自然系统的耦合影响；开发和部署环境传感器，为其他主题提供数据并协助建立环境监测和预报系统；对环境无害的可再生能源的创新。特拉华大学（UD）、特拉华州立大学、韦斯利学院和特拉华技术社区学院将通过创新的研究方法和教育计划合作解决这些主题。该项目包括公共宣传活动以及与私营企业和政府的伙伴关系。该研究是跨学科的，重点研究受土地利用、人口和气候变化影响的海岸带水质的影响因素。将采用新的方法来调查因海平面上升而淹没的土壤污染物的命运，将开发新的环境传感器技术，并将经济、社会学、伦理和政策研究纳入每个研究主题。该项目将解决包括风能和生物燃料在内的可再生能源问题。在劳动力发展的背景下，提出了通过知识产权开发、教育和推广来确保研究的经济和社会效益的新方法。一项种子资助计划将利用新的机会并扩大研究人员的网络。更广泛的影响提高对沿海地区可能发生的变化的理解，以及人类对这些变化的可能反应范围，将在特拉华州直接和短期内应用，并在全国和全球广泛适用。计划进行这项研究，以便通过合作和外联，使研究结果为公共政策和决策提供信息。学生参与者将接受跨学科研究方法的培训，将自然科学与社会科学相结合，并在学术、公共和私营部门之间架起桥梁。新的学位课程、与公共和私营合作伙伴的实习、外联访问、通信和知识产权培训以及将教育和研究结合起来的举措，为培养下一代科学家和工程师提供了创新机会。

As a coastal state, Delaware is facing the prospect of sea-level rise and its consequences for natural and built landscapes ranging from tidal wetlands to agricultural land to densely populated and polluted urban areas. Accordingly, this project addresses water and energy sustainability issues through four interdisciplinary research themes that integrate engineering and the social and natural sciences: the effect of sea-level rise on contaminant mobility and cycling; coupled land use and climate change impacts on water and natural systems; development and deployment of environmental sensors that provide data for the other themes and assist in environmental monitoring and forecasting systems; and innovations in environmentally sound renewable energy sources.The University of Delaware (UD), Delaware State University, Wesley College, and Delaware Technical Community College will collaboratively address these themes using innovative research approaches and educational programs. The project includes public outreach activities and partnerships with private industry and government.Intellectual MeritThe proposed research is interdisciplinary with a focus on factors affecting water quality in a coastal zone subject to land use, demographic, and climate changes. Novel approaches will be used to investigate the fate of soil-bound contaminants inundated by sea-level rise, new environmental sensor technologies will be developed, and economic, sociological, ethical, and policy research will be integrated within each of the research themes. The project will address renewable energy including wind and biofuels. Novel means of securing the economic and societal benefits of the research through intellectual property development, education, and outreach, in the context of workforce development, are proposed. A seed grant program will capitalize on new opportunities and expand the network of investigators.Broader ImpactsImproved understanding of the changes likely to occur in coastal areas and the range of possible human responses to those changes will have direct and near-term application in the state of Delaware, as well as widespread applicability around the nation and the globe. The research is planned so that results will inform public policy and decision making through collaboration and outreach. Student participants will be trained in interdisciplinary research approaches that integrate the natural and social sciences, as well as bridge the academic, public, and private sectors. New degree programs, internships with public and private partners, outreach visits, training in communication and intellectual property, and initiatives to integrate education and research combine to provide innovative opportunities for training the next generation of scientists and engineers.