Environmental Protection Agency: National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet – Sustainable and Healthy Communities

The People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Program supports science-based projects and designs developed by interdisciplinary student teams at colleges and universities. These projects must embody the P3 approach, which is that they have the intention and capability to simultaneously improve the quality of people’s lives, provide economic benefits, and protect the environment.

The P3 Program is composed of two phases that award grants on a competitive basis. The first phase is a competition for one-year grants to test, research, and develop innovative scientific projects or engineering designs that use the P3 approach. In the spring of 2020, the Phase I grantees awarded from this solicitation are required to present their projects/designs at the National Student Design Expo.

The P3 Program has identified the following four strategic program goals:
Goal 1: Engage and educate the next generation of scientists, engineers, and the greater academic and external communities in understanding and using the P3 approach
Goal 2: Support the development of innovative technologies that will contribute to improved social, environmental, and economic well-being, especially in communities with the greatest needs
Goal 3: Support the demonstration of P3-developed technologies to prove their effectiveness and value
Goal 4: Foster the development of enterprises that will disseminate technologies in the target communities and elsewhere

Sustainable and Healthy Communities research grants will support research for developing and demonstrating technologies to prevent contamination by toxic materials and to reduce solid waste that goes to landfills.

EPA seeks projects that support research and demonstration of innovative and cost-effective solutions for the following topics:

• Replacement for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE) water pipes which currently have a high probability of being discarded to landfills
• Remediation of poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-contaminated soil and sediment
• Construction materials that are less-toxic, lighter, more compact, stronger, more durable, longer-lasting, at least as affordable, and can more easily be reused and recycled than currently-used materials
• Less toxic materials for use in floors, walls, and ceilings
• Electronic components that are less toxic and/or easier to reuse and recycle
• Technologies that divert food waste from landfills and recover valuable resources

Amount: An anticipated $800,000 will be available for Phase I and Phase II grant awards, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates funding approximately 20 grants for Phase I. The projected EPA award amount for each Phase I grant is up to $25,000 for a one-year project period. The total project period for an application submitted for a Phase I grant may not exceed one year. Upon the successful completion of Phase I, grant recipients may apply for a Phase II grant of up to $100,000 with a two-year duration, including direct and indirect costs.

Eligibility: Public and private institutions of higher education (limited to degree-granting institutions of higher education) located in the U.S. (includes eligible institutions of higher education located in U.S. territories and possessions) are eligible to apply to be the recipient of a grant to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=309863

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