EESI Center Awards 2011
2011 Center Funding Support Announced
Seven interdisciplinary research initiatives will receive funding support from EESI for three consecutive years, beginning in 2011-12. These centers are committed to collaborative and forward-looking research on the unprecedented environmental challenges facing the earth system.
Included in the seven is the new initiative for Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy to be directed by Seth Blumsack that will unify current collaborations to create a robust University-wide and interdisciplinary research community in energy economics and policy.
Several existing centers also will receive funding and, in some cases, staff support:
- Center for Environmental geoChemistry and Genomics (CECG) led by Jenn Macalady
CECG promotes research and teaching in environmental chemistry and geochemistry. - Center for Environmental Informatics (CEI) led by Doug Miller
CEI focuses on the development of new and innovative approaches to the creation and dissemination of environmental information resources. - Center for Climate Risk Management (CLIMA) led by Klaus Keller
The Center for Climate Risk Management analyzes scientific, economic, and ethical questions related to climate change risk management. - Earth System Science Center (ESSC) led by Michael Mann
ESSC maintains a mission to describe, model, and understand the Earth's climate system. - Penn State Ice and Climate Research Center (PSICE) led by Sridhar Anandakrishnan
The Center for Penn State Ice and Climate Research integrates glaciology, seismology, modeling and climatology. - Riparia led by Rob Brooks
The Riparia Center's mission is to conduct, facilitate, and coordinate interdisciplinary research, monitoring, and training regarding wetlands and related resources with an emphasis on Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states. - Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy Initiative (EEEP)
EEEP supports and promotes integrative research at the boundary of economics, public policy, and engineered/environmental systems. - Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research
The Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research will be the research, information and education leader for the Appalachian region by fostering, supporting and advancing research and research-based outreach on gas shale development - Network for Sustainable Climate Risk Management (SCRiM)
SCRiM is an interdisciplinary team of scholars who plan to establish a multi-institution research network on Sustainable Climate Risk Management strategies.
The funding awards were decided as a result of the EESI Center Competition held in May 2011 which included proposal presentations by center directors who detailed their initiatives, goals and objectives.
In addition to these centers, one EESI-affiliated research center not seeking funds also made a presentation at the competition. The Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research, led by Mike Arthur and Tom Murphy, benefits from space and staff support associated with EESI.