The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $37 million in funding for 52 projects aimed at enhancing research capacity, infrastructure and expertise at institutions historically underrepresented in DOE’s Office of Science portfolio.
The Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR) initiative aims to fundamental research in various fields such as applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geoscience, isotope research, materials science and physics, according to an Aug. 7 news release.
“FAIR is an essential capacity-building initiative that will broaden the impact of DOE and the Office of Science in tackling critical and pressing scientific questions and challenges,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M Granholm said in the release. “To reach our scientific goals, we need all voices represented at the table, including those who have been historically excluded from critical scientific conversations. This funding will help academic institutions expand their research portfolios and spur future scientific discovery, creating a top-notch workforce to advance American competitiveness.”
Through the FAIR initiative, the Office of Science is fostering collaborations between Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) and partnering institutions, according to the release.
Out of the 44 institutions that received awards, 43 are ERIs, while 25 have been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as MSIs, encompassing eight Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), two Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), one Tribal College and University, as well as eight institutions that hold the dual designation of HSIs and AANAPISIs, the release said.
The allocated funding aims to broaden the group of individuals contributing to the Department's goals, enhancing our comprehension of the natural world and sparking scientific breakthroughs with the potential for significant technological advancements, the release reported. Chosen through rigorous scientific peer review within the DOE FAIR Funding Opportunity Announcement, these initiatives will receive a total of $37 million, supporting projects that span up to a three-year period.
