NSF CREST Center for Energy & Environmental Sustainability - Phase II

科学和技术卓越研究中心(CREST)计划通过建立有效整合教育和研究的中心，为提高少数群体服务机构的研究能力提供支持。在国家科学基金会的支持下，草原景观农工大学(PVAMU)将在第一阶段中心成果的基础上，扩大CREST第二阶段能源和环境可持续研究中心的研究范围，并进一步整合与能源相关的教育、推广和研究。第二阶段中心研究围绕三个子项目展开：生物能源、风能和环境可持续性。第二阶段中心研究针对减少与能源相关的二氧化碳排放、增加化石燃料能源的可持续性以及提高生物能源和海上风能的技术效率的重要问题。生物能源子项目涉及生产生物能源原料，用水力压裂作业产生的经过处理的产出水灌溉，并从该原料生产碳氢燃料。海上风能子项目寻求提高大规模海上能源发电的可行性和可靠性。环境可持续性子项目的重点是过程工程和随机方法，以增强化石燃料能源的可持续性，以及生命周期评估。PVAMU是一所历史悠久的黑人大学，在为代表不足的少数族裔学生，特别是非裔美国人，为STEM职业生涯做准备方面建立了良好的记录，包括高级学位。第二阶段CREST将通过以下方式加强这一能力：(1)将PVAMU的可再生能源项目定位为解决与可再生能源和可持续发展相关的全球能源问题的国家资源；(2)改善机构基础设施；(2)专业培养关键人员；(3)扩大与能源行业的合作；以及(4)加强学生的准备，建设一支多样化的劳动力队伍。课程和参与部分，包括本科生的新能源工程课程和硕士水平的能源集中将影响数百名PVAMU学生。该中心将为63名本科生和20名研究生提供与能源相关的研究机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program provides support to enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. With National Science Foundation support, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) will build on the accomplishments of their Phase I Center by broadening the research scope of the CREST Phase II Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability research and further integrating energy-related education, outreach, and research. Phase II Center research is organized around three subprojects: bioenergy, wind energy, and environmental sustainability.Phase II Center research addresses questions that are important to reducing energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, increasing the sustainability of fossil fuel energy sources, and improving the technological efficiency of bioenergy and offshore wind energy. The bioenergy subproject concerns the production of bioenergy feedstock irrigated with treated produced water from fracking operations and generation of hydrocarbon fuels from that feedstock. The Offshore Wind Energy subproject seeks improvement of the feasibility and reliability of massive offshore energy generation. The Environmental Sustainability subproject focus is on process engineering and stochastic methods to enhance the sustainability of fossil fuel energy sources, and life cycle assessment.PVAMU is a Historically Black University with an established record of preparing underrepresented minority students, particularly African Americans, for STEM careers, including advanced degrees The Phase II CREST will strengthen that capability by: (1) positioning PVAMU's renewable energy program as a national resource addressing global energy issues related to renewable energy and sustainability; (2) Improving institutional infrastructure; professionally developing key personnel, and sustainability; (3) expanding collaborations with the energy industry; and (4) Enhancing the preparedness of students and building a diverse workforce. Curriculum and engagement components, including a new energy engineering curriculum at the undergraduate level and an energy concentration at the Master's level will impact hundreds of PVAMU students. The Center will provide energy-related research opportunities for 63 undergraduate and 20 graduate 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.