NSF PR 98-67 - October 13, 1998
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NSF Teams with DOE to Fund Environmental Molecular
Science Institutes
The National Science Foundation (NSF) together with
the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a total
of $21.4 million over five years to establish three
Environmental Molecular Science Institutes (EMSIs).
Grants made to Columbia, Northwestern and Princeton
Universities in this one-time competition will allow
these institutes to be national models for collaborative
research in chemistry aimed at understanding the natural
environment and solving environmental problems. Awards
to each EMSI site will average $1.4 million per year
for five years with the NSF contributing a total of
$15.4 million and the DOE contributing $6 million.
"We are very excited about this opportunity for our
Chemistry Division to provide leadership in environmental
science, " said Robert A. Eisenstein, Ph.D., NSF's
Director for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
Martha Krebs, Ph.D., Director of DOE's Office of Energy
Research agreed. "The establishment of these institutes
emphasizes the critical role of the physical sciences
and engineering in addressing global environmental
problems that require a multidisciplinary approach."
Krebs added, "This new partnership among the DOE's
national laboratories, the universities and private
industries provides researchers with the opportunity
to capitalize on some of the excellent scientific
facilities and unique expertise available at the national
laboratories."
Each EMSI will provide a unique program for academic
scientists and engineers from multiple disciplines
to work with industrial colleagues and with students
to improve understanding of how nature and technology
affect environmental systems at the molecular level.
The EMSI teams at Columbia, Northwestern and Princeton
will collectively employ close to 200 investigators
and students and a dozen industrial partners. Education
and outreach are well integrated into the scientific
programs.
Columbia University's award for "Chemical Sources and
Sinks at Liquid/Solid Interfaces," supports development
of new tools to predict and repair contamination by
organic chemicals. The study will focus on how organic
pollutants are transported and decompose as they move
through soils and groundwater.
Investigators at Northwestern University's "Institute
for Environmental Catalysis (IEC)," will research
the catalytic oxidation of organic compounds to determine
ways to reduce the formation of pollutants and enhance
their removal from waste streams.
Researchers at Princeton University will study "Environmental
BioInorganic Chemistry," particularly how metal-based
enzymes affect marine ecosystems. These enzymes are
important in global nitrogen and carbon cycles.
For further information contact:
Department of Energy, Michelle del Valle, (202) 586-4940
Columbia University, Bob Nelson, (212) 854-6580
Northwestern University, Bill Burton, (847) 491-3115
Princeton University, Mary Caffrey, (609) 258-5748
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