Villanova University
AC-10: Support for Research

There are many opportunities for student research in sustainability. The five primary routes are through (1) courses (notably independent projects in Environmental Science II (GEV 1051), and ACS sections associated with the Environmental Learning Community); (2) projects with individual faculty; (3) the Student working of the President’s Environmental Sustainability Committee; and (4) the Villanova Center for the Advancement of Sustainability in Engineering; (5) the Sustainable Engineering RISE Forum ( Resilient Innovation through Sustainable Engineering) provides master students the opportunity to work with outside companies to complete sustainability specific projects that pertain to their operations. Most departments offer opportunities for both official senior thesis projects and directed/independent research, so there is both financial and academic support for this research. In addition, the Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellows Program (VURF) is designed to provide financial support for student research in the form of stipends and supplies, travel, and conference support. Although not specifically designed for students performing sustainability research, several students who do so have received support. Additionally, Villanova has been awarded various grants for sustainability related research that students have the opportunity to participate in. Recent grants include: 1) NSF grant on "Collaborative research: the influence of mangrove invasion and rising temperatures on below ground processes in coastal ecosystems" with opportunity for 4 undergraduate researchers and one graduate researcher. 2) NSF on the "Physiological mechanisms involved in the allocation of energy to reproduction in corals under thermal stress" with the opportunity to support 4 undergraduate researchers and one graduate researcher. 3) National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant for "A Toolkit for Managing River Inputs to Coral Reefs (PR)" with the opportunity to support 4 undergraduate researchers and two graduate researcher. 4) Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) grant for evaluating Lewis acid catalyst for the pyrolysis of biomass with the goal to enhance the yield of bio-oil. will support a PhD student and a few undergraduates over the 2017 summer. 1)William Penn Foundation awards $565,000 Grant to Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership for research 2)EPA granted $1M to Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership for research 3)Villanova has received a grant from Pennsylvania's Growing Greener Program 4)National Science Foundation award a $800,000 grant for stormwater systems research.

There are many opportunities to encourage faculty research in sustainability. The College of Engineering provides seed grants to promote collaborative research groups annually among faculty members of different research areas and sometimes from different colleges within VU as well as outside universities. Preference is given to interdisciplinary research work and groups that involve undergraduates in their research.

Interdisciplinary Team-Teaching Summer Award is put on by the Villanova Institute for Teaching and Learning to encourage development of new interdisciplinary team-taught courses. Development happens over the summer to be taught the following spring semester. There is a financial reward for the winning team.

Villanova's library does support studies in sustainability through collection, development, and research consultation with subject librarians. The librarians listed below are the primary contacts for assistance with research concerning sustainability. 1. Alfred Fry, Engineering http://library.villanova.edu/research/subject-guides/engineering/civil_and_environmental_engineering/ 2. Merrill Stein, Geography http://library.villanova.edu/research/subject-guides/geography-and-the-environment/ 3. Jutta Seibert, History http://library.villanova.edu/research/subject-guides/history/ Additionally instructors are able to create course guides supplements through library services. Examples of course guides created for specific classes are available at the following web addresses. http://library.villanova.edu/research/course-guides/growing-sustainability/ http://library.villanova.edu/research/course-guides/pro-seminar-sustainability-studies/ Over 1,200 books available either physically or electronically through Villanova's library as well as over 11,000 academic articles.