The DOE-EM’s MSIPP grants are designed to help MSI programs “foster a sustainable and diverse EM [environmental management] science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce pipeline,” as well as “aid in promoting the development of a nationally engaged scientific and engineering workforce that will lead to future career pathways in the EM complex for underrepresented groups.”
Berkeley and New Mexico State: The grant UC–Berkeley received in partnership with Florida International University is for the development of “a center of excellence for research and training in radioactive waste management.” The estimated value of this grant is $3,599,445.
New Mexico State received its grant in partnership with the University of Texas–El Paso. The award, to be used for “new materials and processes for radioactive tank waste processing and workforce development,” is valued at an estimated $4,827,097.
Other recipients: The other five MSIs were awarded grants for projects not directly related to nuclear energy, as listed below:
- University of California–Merced, in partnership with California State University, Fresno—$2,884,331 to “promote experimental learning and recruitment of environmental science and engineering students.”
- Florida A&M University, in partnerships with Kentucky State University and Clark Atlanta University—$4,793,345 to “develop a geospatial-artificial intelligence enhanced curriculum for MSIs.”
- Rutgers University–Newark, in partnership with California State University–Long Beach—$3,004,946 for “geophysics [education] for environmental management students in addressing soil and groundwater remediation.”
- University of Nevada–Las Vegas, in partnership with California State University–Fresno—$2,131,593 for “education and workforce development for soil and groundwater remediation.”
- Texas State University, in partnership with Prairie View A&M University—$3,521,137 for “multidisciplinary research and workforce development on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.”
