Research on Water and Solar Energy

Published on by in Academic

Research on Water and Solar Energy

Research into sustainable water supplies and viable solar energy solutions won the University of California, Merced, an anticipated $5million in prestigious and competitive grants from the University ofCalifornia

UC Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives (MRPI) awards will go to ProfessorsRoger BalesandRoland Winstonand colleagues, who will oversee two of only 18 projects to be funded throughout the UC system out of 186 proposals. The grants begin Jan. 1, and award details will be determinedthen.

"These awards recognize the leadership our faculty members bring to these important topics," Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Sam Trainasaid.

Bales, director of theSierra Nevada Research Institute, proposed an intercampus UC Water Security and Sustainability Research Initiative, amalgamating experts from across the UC system to build a strategic base of water knowledge to help California and the nation achieve a water-securefuture.

Winston, director of the nine-campusUniversity of California Advanced Solar Technologies Institute(UC Solar), applied for renewal of the grant that helped fund the formation of the institute. UC Solar brings together the best solar scientists in the UC system to engage with energy stakeholders worldwide and develop solutions that can be brought to the marketplace quickly and integratedseamlessly.

"Solar is our most abundant and reliable form of renewable energy, and, when used effectively, has the potential to meet most, if not all, of our energy needs," Winston said. "This grant renewal reflects UC's ongoing leadership in solar energy research and education for California and theworld."

Bales and Winston are both founding faculty members at UC Merced. Bales is with theSchool of Engineering, while Winston is with both the School of Engineering and theSchool of Natural Sciences.

The 2014 MRPI awards drew 186 eligible applications totaling more than $273 million in funding requests. The UC Office of the President said this highly selective program funds less than 10 percent of the proposals, which came from all 10 campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory.

The initiative blends UC's technical advances in hydrology with parallel innovations in policy analysis and decision support to meet the state's water-security challenges. Three primary concentrations will occupy the new initiative: relevant, real-time water data; a better understanding of land cover changes on source-water areas; and better tools and techniques for better groundwater management, including scientific and engineering developments and legal and policyresearch.

Both Bales and Winston aim to build public- and private-sector partnerships that will make their multicampus programs long-term, sustained initiatives within theUC.

source :UC Merced

Media

Taxonomy