Harnessing Energy Flows in the Biosphere to Build Sustainable

Energy Systems

Iowa NSF EPSCoR ProjectRobert Brown, PIHeather Conley, Chief Operating OfficerPhone: 515 294-6235Fax: 515 294-3091

State EPSCoR OfficeJordan Cohen, State DirectorPhone: 319 335-2119Fax: 319 335-2104http://iowaepscor.org

VISION: The Vision of the Iowa NSF EPSCoR

project is to establish Iowa as the leader in

the world-wide transition in energy supply

from mining subsurface (fossil) energy stores

to harnessing renewable energy flows in the

biosphere by 2016.

MISSION: Our mission is to achieve

organizational excellence, enhance Iowa’s

research infrastructure, and prepare a

diverse STEM-educated workforce needed

to advance Iowa’s competitive position in

renewable energy and energy efficiency. We

will build research capacity across Iowa by

enhancing existing and established strengths

that support a transition in energy from fossil

fuels to harnessing renewable energy flows

at or near the Earth’s surface, within the

inherent context of economic, social, and

environmental constraints.

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RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT TRACK 1 | EPS -1101284

WHAT IS EPSCOR?The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive

Research is a $20 million, five-year investment in

multi-institutional, interdisciplinary projects aimed

at improving research infrastructure and increasing

research competitiveness within a jurisdiction.

NSF EPSCOR IN IOWAIowa’s NSF EPSCoR Project builds Iowa’s research

capacity in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The

Iowa Power Fund, a state program supporting energy

innovation and independence, has also granted the

project $2 million to pay for research equipment.

The core of the research project will be conducted at

Iowa’s three public universities: Iowa State University,

the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern

Iowa. The program also includes partnerships with the

state’s community colleges, private colleges, school

districts, government agencies, and industries.This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number EPS-1101284.

RESEARCHThe research plan includes four distinct

platforms: bioenergy, wind energy, energy

utilization/energy efficiency, and energy policy.

These platforms, consisting of nine focus areas

in science, engineering, and socioeconomics,

are proposed to: (1) strengthen and support

our scientific infrastructure, (2) advance the

nation’s knowledge base, and (3) build capacity

for Iowa’s R&D state priority in renewable

energy and energy efficiency.

The scientific vision builds upon existing

strengths that support a transition in energy

from fossil fuels to harnessing renewable

energy flows at or near the Earth’s surface,

within the inherent context of economic,

social, and environmental constraints.

STATE GOVERNING COMMITTEEThe purpose of the State Governing

Committee is to assist Iowa in focusing and

enhancing its capacity for research and

development through a partnership of our

academic institutions, national labs, industry,

and state government; promote research in

the universities; increase opportunities for

training a diverse workforce of scientists

and engineers; and encourage economic

development in the state of Iowa by leveraging

investments in research infrastructure. The

committee consists of representatives from

the three Board of Regents universities,

independent colleges, community colleges,

public and private institutions, and industry.

STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PLANThe science and technology plan aligns

strategic infrastructure improvements

that allow the state to achieve the

interconnectivity needed to advance

competitiveness in federal funding, workforce

development, diversity, strategic linkages

across the K–16 educational sector, and state

government fiscal and planning resources.

To learn more about EPSCoR in Iowa, check out our website: http://iowaepscor.org.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACHThe Iowa NSF EPSCoR Project will strengthen

the STEM pipeline across Iowa to support the

next generation of scientists and educators

in Iowa and create a highly skilled workforce

that will meet the demands of Iowa’s emerging

green economy.

The goals are to increase the participation of

women and underrepresented minorities in

STEM fields, prepare a workforce to meet the

demands of Iowa’s emerging green economy,

and coordinate professional development

of researchers and educators to strengthen

career success in STEM education and

renewable energy/energy efficiency research.