This is a guest post composed as part of the NSF Science: Becoming the Messenger workshop, Lawrence KS January 27, 2011
The NSF Experimental Program for Competitive Research funds Kansas scientists and empowers cutting edge research in climate and energy. Kansas researchers have joined forces to create a center that interweaves research in climate and energy in order to leverage the collective knowledge about these important global issues. Four Kansas Universities are involved including the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, and Haskell Indian Nations University. The collective brainpower of over 60 researchers from all disciplines ranging from the social sciences, natural sciences through engineering are involved in the massive initiative. Participants are working on projects that run the gamut from consulting with Kansas farmers about how the climate is affecting their decisions as to which crops to sow, to building better photovoltaic cells using nanotechnology. Data gathered from the project will help Kansas farmers and other stakeholders such as policy makers in future decision making. The projects also will impact the economic growth potential in Kansas as they forge links with local industries. In addition to doing cutting edge research, an integral part of the project is training the future scientists and engineers in Kansas. Because of the unique nature of the project, which blends climate and energy research efforts, students from K-12 and up are benefiting from the collective knowledge being garnered in two of the most critical global challenges. - Kristin Bowman-James
