Pennsylvania is investing more than $2 million in research to battle the effects of climate change.
Gov. Tom Wolf –
Gov. Tom Wolf today said six Pennsylvania organizations will receive grants for research on issues critical to sustaining and growing the state’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry.
Grant recipients include The Center for Dairy Excellence, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Pennsylvania State University, Rodale Institute, Stroud Water Research Institute, and University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
“Investing in research and development helps Pennsylvania battle the effects of climate change and stay on the cutting edge of technology, disease prevention and pest control,” Wolf said. “We are feeding innovation that advances human and animal medicine, and produces cleaner water, healthier soil, and a safer, more abundant food supply to sustain our future.”
The grants fund a broad range of research aimed at safely controlling spotted lanternfly and other invasive insects; boosting pollinator effectiveness; developing new methods of detecting and preventing animal diseases; building a skilled workforce to sustain growth; and improving soil and water quality through regenerative farming methods.
Among the grantees are:
Rodale Institute, Berks County
Preparing a skilled agriculture workforce and fostering understanding of sustainable, regenerative farming methods — $500,000
Center for Dairy Excellence, Harrisburg
Studying implications for dairy farmers of proposed reforms to the federal Milk Marketing Order, the rules surrounding dairy processor milk purchases– $30,000
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture – Berks County
Supporting farmers in setting management goals for improving soil health and measuring resulting improvements — $135,000
Lehigh University is one of 17 colleges in the state to receive grants totaling $2.3 million through the Manufacturing PA initiative, Gov. Tom Wolf said today.
The initiative is funding 36 student research projects that will help advance innovation in several sectors of manufacturing, from 3D printing to waste sustainability, to autonomous navigation and more, Wolf said.
Lehigh University is working with Dynalene Inc. to develop economical chloride blends that are minimally corrosive to stainless steel alloys for renewable energy applications, said Animesh Kundu, principal research scientist in Lehigh’s Center for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.
The chloride salt blends are identified to be optimal for next generation concentrated solar power plants (Generation 3) but cannot be deployed in applications because of their extreme corrosive behavior towards most metals and metallic alloys including the common materials of construction in solar power plants, he said.
The research team has developed an additive package for appropriate chloride salt blends that are minimally corrosive towards stainless steel alloys, he said. The chemicals in the additive package react with stainless steel in presence the chloride salt blends at high temperatures forming a ceramic oxide coating on the stainless-steel surface exposed to the molten chloride salts.
“Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry has seen continued growth and innovation, and I am amazed at the work these students and companies do,” Wolf said. “My administration continues to be committed to providing funding to students involved in this important industry. I am proud to fund these 36 projects and look forward to seeing what they create.”
The approved projects are part of Manufacturing PA’s fellowship program. The program embeds the commonwealth’s best and brightest graduate and undergraduate students with local manufacturers, Wolf said.
Once paired, the students embark on research projects to develop new technologies and advance innovation statewide.
Universities that have partnered with a manufacturer can apply for and receive between $25,000 and $70,000 in funding for specific student research projects.
In addition to Millersville, the 36 projects awarded grants are involved in partnerships with local manufacturing companies and the following Pennsylvania colleges:
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Drexel University
Gannon University
Millersville University
Pennsylvania State University – Behrend
Pennsylvania State University – Berks
Pennsylvania State University – Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State University
Robert Morris University
Temple University
Thomas Jefferson University
University of Pittsburgh
Villanova University
Widener University
York College of Pennsylvania.
Neil Weaver, acting secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) joined Rick Lucas, chief technology officer of ExOne, and others in Harrisburg to celebrate these grants today.
The fellowship was developed through collaboration with Pennsylvania’s seven research institutions, manufacturers, and industrial resource centers (IRCs) across the commonwealth and is administered by DCED and Carnegie Mellon University.
Since its inception in 2018, the fellowship has granted $9.8 million to 409 students across the commonwealth. About 117 companies located across the commonwealth have benefited from the partnerships this fellowship has provided.
Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative ensures that training leads not simply to any job, but to careers that provide higher pay and opportunities for advancement.
Working with DCED’s strategic partners, including IRCs, Pennsylvania’s colleges, universities, technical schools, and non-profit organizations, this initiative fosters collaboration and partnerships to accelerate technology advancement, encourage innovation and commercialization, and build a 21st century workforce, the governor’s office said.
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