The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today, September 20, 2024, the allocation of $498,801 in research funding to five college teams to advance their innovative technologies aimed at addressing urgent environmental and public health challenges. The awarded projects focus on high-priority issues such as developing PFAS-free alternatives and ensuring cleaner water by reducing lead, microplastics, and nutrient runoff.
"Congratulations to this year’s teams whose innovative research projects focus on overcoming critical issues to protect public health and the environment," said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. "These students are bringing their exciting ideas to life and expanding their learning experience beyond the classroom."
The awards are part of EPA’s People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Program. The student teams are receiving Phase II awards as part of the 18th Annual P3 competition. Awardees previously received a one-year grant of up to $25,000 for Phase I to develop their idea. Teams highlighted today successfully competed for a Phase II grant of up to $100,000 to implement their design in a real-world setting.
The following institutions are receiving funding for the 18th Annual P3 Phase II awards:
- University of Wisconsin, Madison: To develop an affordable and easy-to-use sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of lead in tap water.
- University of Missouri, Columbia: To develop a modular, stand-alone water treatment unit using broadly available materials to mitigate PFAS in drinking water.
- Michigan State University, East Lansing: To develop a PFAS-free and biodegradable coated paper with water-and-oil resistance as an alternative to single-use plastic and PFAS-coated products.
- Ball State University, Muncie: To examine the presence and removal of microplastics in wastewater treatment by improving current sampling and testing procedures while considering temporal and seasonal variation in microplastics pollution.
- Georgia Southern University, Statesboro: To design and build a 3D filtration technology to enhance nutrient removal in runoff from urban or agricultural watersheds.
Further information about the P3 Phase II winners can be found online.
Additional details about EPA's P3 Program are also available.
