Description:
Objective:
The University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) proposes an integrated
program to improve the state's overall environmental research and training capabilities
and to specifically enhance competitiveness in research focused upon the dynamics
and fate of contaminants in arid and semiarid regions. The SIP focuses on promoting
and facilitating interdisciplinary environmental research activities among UCCSN
institutions, as well as on developing connections between UCCSN and external
constituencies. Specific objectives are to: 1) strengthen inter-institutional
collaborations in targeted environmental research; 2) promote the development
of human resources in environmental sciences and engineering; 3) strengthen
interactions between UCCSN researchers and industry; and 4) enhance interactions
of UCCSN researchers with environmental agencies and state leadership.
Approach:
Objective 1 will be addressed by: the establishment of a Nevada Environmental
Science and Technology Advisory Council (NESTAC) as a forum for communication/networking
among environmental research programs within the state; facilitating the availability
of shared-use facilities; and creating a registry of environmental researchers.
Strategies to address Objective 2 will focus on: attracting/retaining top faculty
and graduate students, particularly from under-represented groups (i.e. women
and minorities), as environmental researchers; supporting junior faculty in
developing their research competitiveness; increasing the exposure of undergraduates
to environmental research; and supporting K-12 and community outreach activities
in the environmental sciences. Objective 3 will be addressed by: promoting the
UCCSN Applied Research Initiative (ARI) to the state's environmental industries;
supporting researchers to visit potential industrial ARI partners; and using
NESTAC as a forum to increase communications with key industries. NESTAC will
also provide opportunities for UCCSN to develop closer interactions with environmental
agencies and to present a stronger voice on state environmental matters (Objective
4).
Expected Results:
The SIP will produce increased collaborations between UCCSN researchers and
more effective use of facilities in pursuing new environmental research opportunities.
UCCSN researchers will have closer interactions with public/private environmental
organizations. Junior faculty will develop grantsmanship skills and greater
funding potential. Students will be provided research experiences in studying
the dynamics and fate of contaminants in the region. Educational/outreach activities
will improve environmental awareness/literacy in the state.
Improvements in Risk Assessment or Risk Management: The SIP, in concert with
the SEER projects, will improve the state's environmental research capabilities
and the understanding of the dynamics and fate of contaminants in arid and semiarid
ecosystems. Thus, the accuracy of fate/transport models, as well as human and
ecological exposure assessments for these ecosystems will improve.
Supplemental Keywords:
watersheds, groundwater, atmosphere, soil, plants, exposure, heavy metals, organics, biogeochemical cycling, fate, transport, arid ecosystems, southwest.
, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Water, Air Quality, Analytical Chemistry, Bioremediation, Contaminated Sediments, Environmental Microbiology, Fate & Transport, Hazardous Waste, Microbiology, Molecular Biology/Genetics, atmospheric deposition, bioavailability, biochemistry, biodegradation, biogeochemical cycling, bioremediation of soils, contaminants in soil, contaminated sediment, contaminated soil, contaminated soils, degradation, emissions, fate and transport, modeling, natural recovery
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