The University of Central Arkansas is among the seven universities involved in a $20 million National Science Foundation grant to support renewable energy research.
UCA will receive $476,000 over a five-year period for biotechnology research called P3 or Plant Powered Production. J.D Swanson, an assistant professor of biology, is the campus lead for the grant.
The Center for Plant Powered Production or “P3 Center” will use funds to study plant biosynthesis and production of renewable biomaterials. Researchers at UCA, UA-Fayetteville, ASU-Jonesboro, UALR and UAPB will collaborate on this project.
The Arkansas Science and Technology Authority will use its funds to support three multi-campus research networks that will study three different types of renewable energy – plant biosynthesis, solar energy and nanotechnology. Funds will be used to purchase laboratory equipment and other supplies as well as provide stipends for Arkansas undergraduate and graduate students involved in this research.
Other multi-campus research centers are:
- The Center for Generating Renewable Energy with Efficient Nanoplasmonic Solar Cells or “GREEN Center” will use funds to study solar energy and make it more efficient. Researchers at UA-Fayetteville, UALR, UA-Fort Smith, Philander Smith College and UAPB will collaborate on this project.
- The Vertically Integrated Center for Transformative Energy Research or “VICTER Center”” will use funds to study nanotechnology that will be useful in making solar panels more energy efficient. Researchers at UA-Fayetteville, ASU-Jonesboro, UALR and UAPB will collaborate on this project.
“The funds from this NSF award will provide infrastructure – both equipment and human resources – to create advanced research that will have a huge economic impact for the state,” said Gale McClure, vice president of sponsored projects at the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.
