MCSI RESEARCH PROGRAM EXPANDS COHORT OF ENGAGED RESEARCHERS & FORGES NEW PATHWAYS

Research Results

The MCSI Research Seed Grants catalyze the formation of convergent research teams focused on sustainability and associated solutions. Through this program, MCSI has supported over 120 faculty research projects resulting in $35.5MM in follow on funding since 2004. In 2022-23, nearly $1 million in follow-on funding was generated from MCSI seed grants, including these highlights:

NSF Grant for Circular Economy Research

MCSI Co-Director Melissa Bilec and Director Emeritus Eric Beckman, alongside colleagues Jenna Jambeck and Jason Locklin from the University of Georgia, have received a $750,000 NSF Grant for their joint research project, "A Tale of Two Cities: Optimizing Circularity from Molecules to the Built Environment " The project seeks to minimize material waste and resource depletion through the development of several circular economy models (which span multiple materials and scales) in two distinct metropolitan regions: Pittsburgh, PA, and Atlanta, GA. Learn more in this University Times article featuring the project

Bioconcrete: Harnessing the Endogenous Microbiota of Reinforced Concrete

Sarah Haig & Steven Sachs, Civil&EnvironmentalEngineering

$81,000 from PennDOT

• Seed grant co-funded by MCSI and IRISE

• Featured in the Editor’s Choice section of the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering.

Research into Video Art and Ecological Filmmaking in Japan

Sarah Moore, Film and Media Studies

$4,350 from Asian Studies Center

Environmental Justice Pathway: Empowering Students Through Relevant & Agentic Data Science Lessons

Cassie Quigley, Education

Funded by the Grable Foundation

• Part of an ongoing research-practice partnership between Pitt researchers, Throughlines Edu, and Pittsburgh region STEAM-related educators.

Exploring the Feasibility, Governance, and Public Communication of Biomining to Advance Inclusivity and Environmental Justice

Meng Wang, Civil&EnvironmentalEngineering

$51,482 from SSOE-SPH Pilot Project

• MCSI a co-created and collaborated on developing the School of Public Health and Swanson School of Engineering’s Trans-Disciplinary Collaboration Pilot Awards for topics in climate change and health, global health, environmental justice.

The Center for Healthy Environments and Equity Research (CHEER) - Led by Aaron Barchowsky in Public Health. MCSI is a key partner, advisor, and lead for the Center, with Dr. Melissa Bilec serving on the Advisory Board and Dr. David Sanchez leading the Research Synergy Group on Emerging Environmental Technologies & Equitable Interventions.