2008 Woodie Awards
Students can receive grants
Environmental projects that address sustainability could lead to $10,000
By: Jessica Pavlovich
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Students around the United States have the chance to use their ideas to help the environment.
And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to help by sponsoring a contest.
Winners of the agency's "People, Prosperity and the Planet" (P3) Award will receive grants to develop their ideas.
"Teams of undergraduate or graduate students develop projects to address challenges to sustainability in six areas: agriculture, built environment, materials and chemicals, energy, information resources and water," said Cynthia Nolt-Helms, program director of P3, in a recent interactive online chat with Central Michigan Life.
The competition has two phases. Student teams compete for $10,000 grants, which are then used to help research and develop their design projects during the following academic year, Nolt-Helms said.
During the second phase, teams attend the National Sustainable Design Expo featuring the EPA's P3 Award Competition in Washington, D.C.
"The next Expo will take place Sunday through Tuesday, April 20 to 22 on the National Mall," Nolt-Helms said.
Yonatan Strauch, a graduate student from Appalachian State University, is a two-time winner of the competition.
One of Strauch's winning projects included a 'Collaborative Biodiesel Project,' which demonstrated the viability of using solar, thermal and other renewable technologies to reduce the energy consumption of biodiesel projection, he said in an interactive online chat.
Nolt-Helms said the P3 grant program was started in 2003 as a way to tap into the creative energy of the students to benefit people and promote prosperity while protecting the planet.
"It was also intended as a tool for faculty to use to infuse sustainability in college curriculum," Nolt-Helms said.
Although Strauch is not going to participate in this year's competition, he said if students want to apply, they should.
"Make sure your project really addresses all of the 'P's', not just one or two. Addressing the questions in the application is key, even if the criteria can be confusing," Strauch said.
The deadline for phase I is 4 p.m. Dec. 20. An application overview can be found online at es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/apply/index.html or students can apply at grants.gov.
Student Environmental Alliance president and Eagle junior Audrie Thelen said she hasn't heard of the program, but would like to get involved if she had more information.
"Our transportation committee is looking into the use of biodiesel fuel on campus," Thelen said. "But CMU doesn't have the right kind of insurance."
Thelen said the Student Environmental Alliance also is researching bike-friendly sidewalks and the use of solar panels on campus, but funding would be necessary.
news@cm-life.com
And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to help by sponsoring a contest.
Winners of the agency's "People, Prosperity and the Planet" (P3) Award will receive grants to develop their ideas.
"Teams of undergraduate or graduate students develop projects to address challenges to sustainability in six areas: agriculture, built environment, materials and chemicals, energy, information resources and water," said Cynthia Nolt-Helms, program director of P3, in a recent interactive online chat with Central Michigan Life.
The competition has two phases. Student teams compete for $10,000 grants, which are then used to help research and develop their design projects during the following academic year, Nolt-Helms said.
During the second phase, teams attend the National Sustainable Design Expo featuring the EPA's P3 Award Competition in Washington, D.C.
"The next Expo will take place Sunday through Tuesday, April 20 to 22 on the National Mall," Nolt-Helms said.
Yonatan Strauch, a graduate student from Appalachian State University, is a two-time winner of the competition.
One of Strauch's winning projects included a 'Collaborative Biodiesel Project,' which demonstrated the viability of using solar, thermal and other renewable technologies to reduce the energy consumption of biodiesel projection, he said in an interactive online chat.
Nolt-Helms said the P3 grant program was started in 2003 as a way to tap into the creative energy of the students to benefit people and promote prosperity while protecting the planet.
"It was also intended as a tool for faculty to use to infuse sustainability in college curriculum," Nolt-Helms said.
Although Strauch is not going to participate in this year's competition, he said if students want to apply, they should.
"Make sure your project really addresses all of the 'P's', not just one or two. Addressing the questions in the application is key, even if the criteria can be confusing," Strauch said.
The deadline for phase I is 4 p.m. Dec. 20. An application overview can be found online at es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/apply/index.html or students can apply at grants.gov.
Student Environmental Alliance president and Eagle junior Audrie Thelen said she hasn't heard of the program, but would like to get involved if she had more information.
"Our transportation committee is looking into the use of biodiesel fuel on campus," Thelen said. "But CMU doesn't have the right kind of insurance."
Thelen said the Student Environmental Alliance also is researching bike-friendly sidewalks and the use of solar panels on campus, but funding would be necessary.
news@cm-life.com
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