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Student Applicants Sought For $1.25 Million in Sustainability Grants

Release Date: 08/18/2006
Contact Information: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355 / [email protected]; En español: Lina Younes (202-564-9924 / [email protected]

(Washington, D.C. - Aug. 18, 2006) Everyone has a role in protecting our environment, including members of Generation Y. EPA is tapping into their innovation and creativity in finding solutions to environmental challenges through the agency's People, Prosperity and the Planet competition. The agency plans to award up to $1.25 million in grants that enable teams of college students to research, develop and design scientific and technical solutions to sustainability challenges that protect the environment while achieving continued economic prosperity.

EPA will award as many as 50 grants up to $10,000 each to student teams. The money will be used to research and develop sustainable solutions during the 2007-08 academic year. In spring 2008, the teams will be invited to bring their designs to Washington, D.C., to compete for EPA's P³ Award, which includes an additional award worth up to $75,000 to further develop and implement the project in the field. The competition will be judged by the National Academy of Engineering for design innovation and technical merit along with relevant social, economic and environmental considerations that are the keys to sustainable designs.

The P3 competition is open to teams of students attending colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational institutions. Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged, including representatives from multiple engineering departments and/or departments of chemistry, architecture, industrial design, economics, policy, social sciences, business, communication, etc.

The grants will be awarded for research related to the P³ (People, Prosperity, and the Planet) sustainability competition, a national student design competition launched in 2004.

Proposals must reach EPA by Dec. 21, 2006. Application procedures and materials for this year's grants: es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2007/2007_p3_4thannual.html

Several previous winners have already taken their innovations to new levels – including starting successful businesses, winning additional awards, and improving the quality of life in the United States, other developed countries plus those that are developing.

Details about the P3 competition: www.epa.gov/p3