News & Updates

The NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, or TIP, is pleased to share an exciting event opportunity. NSF’s Convergence Accelerator, a TIP program, is hosting its annual portfolio showcase event – Convergence Accelerator Expo 2022, virtual, July 27-28.

First Hydropower Collegiate Competition and 2023 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition Competitors Also Announced The DOE has announced the winners of the 2022 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC). Alongside the 2022 MECC winners, DOE also announced the new wave of students who will compete in the inaugural Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) and 2023 MECC.

The DOE has announced the selection of 83 early career scientists from across the country to receive $110 million in funding for research covering a wide range of topics, from holography to particle accelerators. This year’s awardees represent 47 universities and 13 National Labs in 29 states. These awards are a part of the DOE’s long-standing efforts to develop the next generation of STEM leaders who will solidify America’s role as the driver of science and innovation around the world. Recipients from DOE EPSCoR jurisdictions include:

NSF is pleased to announce the next webinar in the 2022 NSF Policy Office Webinar Series, covering Subawards: Assessment, Approval, and Monitoring, will take place on June 30, 2 to 3 pm EST. There is no cost to participate.

The DOE has announced it will work with 12 competitively selected remote and island communities around the United States to help strengthen their energy infrastructure, reduce the risk of outages, and improve their future energy and economic outlook. Through the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP), DOE and its national and regional partners will support projects in communities that, due to their geographic isolation, often face high energy costs and vulnerable energy infrastructure due to their increased risk of natural disasters and climate change. ETIPP will leverage the world-class expertise of DOE's experts and National Labs to advance local clean energy solutions and improve resilience for the 12 selected communities which, like other remote and island areas, often lack the financial resources and the access to experts to plan a clean energy transition. Selected communities in EPSCoR jurisdictions are:

The DOE Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) challenges interdisciplinary teams of undergrad students from a variety of programs to offer a unique solution to a complex wind energy project using the multi-faceted elements highlighted below, providing each student with real-world experience as they prepare to enter the wind industry workforce.

Twelve competing teams and four learn-along teams participated in the 2022 CWC, which took place May 16-18 in conjunction with the American Clean Power Association’s CLEANPOWER 2022 Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio. After presenting their work to a panel of wind energy experts, Kansas State University claimed first place. KSU also won the Turbine Testing Contest.

The 2022 CWC focused on the challenges associated with fixed-bottom offshore wind projects. By participating in the 2022 competition, students developed the skills, experience, and industry connections that will help them break into the growing offshore wind energy industry and the wider renewable energy industry.

The DOE has announced the winners of the 2022 Geothermal Collegiate Competition, an annual event that prepares students to lead the next generation of geothermal energy development. The Competition is designed to inspire students to consider new career opportunities, learn geothermal industry-relevant skills, and connect students to their communities. As part of the competition, students assumed the role of project developers, working with communities across the US to identify local energy challenges and explore geothermal energy solutions. In addition to technical research, teams conducted an economic feasibility analysis, crafted a strategy for local stakeholder engagement, and created geothermal education modules in partnership with local schools. The winner from the DOE EPSCoR jurisdictions is:

Through a bold, new NSF initiative, the Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines, program catalyzes and fosters innovation ecosystems across the US to:

NSF has announced five 2022 EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track-1 awards. The projects funded through the awards will support and further research partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies and industry to build out research infrastructure by supporting research-driven improvements to critical physical and cyber infrastructure.

The DOE has announced $10 million in funding for traineeships in computational high energy physics. This funding will support graduate student research that trains the next generation of computational scientists and engineers needed to deliver scientific discoveries.