California State University, Fullerton
AC-10: Support for Research

The CSUF Center for Sustainability brings together students and faculty interested in pursuing sustainability research. The Campus Mission and Goals specifically targeted proposals that were interdisciplinary in terms of both academic discipline, as well as combining faculty, students, and staff. Some examples of programs that encourage student research include: Southern California Ecosystems Research Program (SCERP) ******************************************************* The Southern California Ecosystems Research Program (SCERP) is an NSF-funded program that prepares students for careers in environmental industry, government agencies, and graduate programs in Biology or Environmental Science. SCERP scholars receive some summer support, research and travel funds during the academic year, and are eligible for CSUF funding opportunities through NSM Inter- Club Council, Associated Students Incorporated, and the Faculty Development Center. In December of 2016, students in this program studied desert mistletoe in the Mojave National Preserve. Desert mistletoe is a parasitic plant that steals water and nutrients from several species of shrubs and trees, such as acacia and mesquite. It also provides food and nesting habitat for birds. There study focused on how different host species affected adaptation in the mistletoe. It is important to understand how changes in the desert may affect biological communities. The positive outcome from this research was that only mesquite was being attacked by the desert mistletoe and not other shrubs.

Junior/Senior Faculty Research Grants *************************************** All full-time faculty, lecturers, coaches, counselors and librarians are invited to submit proposals for junior/senior grant funding intended “to stimulate faculty research and creative activities, to support such research and creative activities, and to assist faculty in successful competition for external funding, where appropriate". Ideally, funded activities should lead to competitive externally funded projects; e.g., donors, private/public grants, contracts). Purpose of Award ***************** To support and enhance faculty research, creative and scholarly activities resulting in the following specific outcomes: Publications Peer-reviewed conference presentations Performance/Exhibits Pilot project implementation Seed money to assist in obtaining external funding for projects Data collection Professional development The Auxiliary Services Corporation of CSUF provides incentives and funding for these projects, along with Award Spending Guidelines for using their funds (document attached). Dr. Pratanu Ghosh did research on "Zeolite based new generation concrete: Solution for sustainable and durable concrete structure". He received his funding from the Junior/Senior Faculty Research Grant. Four positive outcomes from his research are: 1. The material Zeolite can make the concrete highly sustainable as it reduces carbon di-oxide (CO2) emission in significant amounts. 2. Zeolite is one type of processed volcanic ash and we have large deposits in western part of the United States. The concrete industry can take the advantage of using zeolite as supplementary cementitious materials to improve the quality of concrete in terms of mechanical properties, namely strength of concrete and durability of concrete against corrosion, sulfate attack, ASR, and freeze-thaw. 3. In the long term, overall life cycle cost of concrete bridges and pavements would be cheaper as rehabilitation and retrofit costs will be dramatically reduced. 4. Local ready mix concrete companies in western parts of the USA can take advantage of the new cheaper, sustainable and durable materials for concrete construction. Placing, transporting and consolidating of concrete will also be a smoother process if zeolite is used as an alternative cementitious materials. Cement could be replaced by 15-25% of zeolite materials.

http://www.fullerton.edu/doresearch/faculty_resources/jsfrg/jsfrg_2017-18.php