Ten university-wide projects devoted to advancing interdisciplinary research across multiple application areas have been awarded Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grants as part of the 2023 cohort.
The Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant Program was launched in 2017 and offered again in 2019 and 2021 through a partnership between the offices of Research and Public Service and Outreach. Its success is reflected by the value of external grants subsequently won by teams to pursue work initiated through these seed grants. These 10 awards were chosen from 70 proposals and reflect a commitment of $1 million from UGA President Jere W. Morehead.
For the first time, this year’s program has two tracks: New Frontiers and Cluster Engagement. The New Frontiers trackis intended to support early-stage exploration of potentially transformative research that addresses grand challenges at the community, state, national, or global level.
Marshall Shepherd leads one New Frontiers project, incorporating researchers from atmospheric sciences, geography, planning, and engineering. The project is a collaboration with industry partners to mitigate urban heat stress on both citizens and infrastructure. In addition to UGA researchers, the project will feature partnerships with The Ray, Pirelli Tires, and ESRI, a developer of geographic information software.
“I have been on previous Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant projects and am always stimulated by how they change the rules of engagement in a positive way,” said Shepherd, a Georgia Athletics Distinguished Professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Department of Geography. “Challenges within society are not in silos, so the solution space should not be either.”
Carl Vinson Institute of Government Associate Director Shana Jones also is leading a New Frontiers project that establishes UGA as a testbed for electric vehicle implementation and to inform both academic and applied research by…
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