RII-Track 2 FEC: Advancing Social and Environmental Equity through Plastics Research: Education, Innovation, and Inclusion (ASPIRE)

RII-Track 2 FEC：通过塑料研究促进社会和环境公平：教育、创新和包容性 (ASPIRE)

• 批准号: 2316351
• 负责人: Zhe Qiang
• 金额: $ 400万
• 依托单位: University of Southern Mississippi
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-10-01 至 2027-09-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2316351&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RII; Track; FEC; Advancing; Social

Plastics have transformed and broadly benefited modern society; however, with a cumulative global production exceeding 9 billion metric tons, the generation and management of plastic and plastic waste are fundamentally intertwined with environmental pollution and climate change. Mismanaged plastic lifecycles irrecoverably commit non-renewable resources to either pyrolysis processes or to landfills, which generates substantial greenhouse gas emissions and produces microplastic pollution. These consequences exacerbate global climate change, putting both environmental ecosystems and human health at risk, with coastal and underserved communities, as well as individuals with vulnerable health conditions, bearing a disproportionate burden. This Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-2 Focused EPSCoR Collaborations award will enable researchers from institutions in two EPSCoR jurisdictions (MS and AL), including the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Auburn University (AU), to establish a transdisciplinary program to address plastic waste challenges and their climate and health impacts, while building community climate resilience and advancing social and environmental justice in Mississippi and Alabama. In partnership with regional research and health institutions, local communities, small businesses, and recycling service providers, the project team will assess the impact of microplastics on marine, aquaculture, and community health, develop blend compatibilizers to improve mixed polyolefin recycling, and create next-generation bio-sourced polymers. The project features a comprehensive workforce development and training plan that focuses on enhancing the skills and competencies of researchers, students, and industry professionals with a particular focus on advancing STEM diversity and inclusivity. Program elements include mentorship and advancement for early-career researchers, virtual professional development workshops, student-led symposia to foster networking and leadership skills, summer research programs for undergraduates, and specialized training sessions for workers in construction, agriculture, and marine sectors to better manage plastic waste. A robust outreach program will foster community engagement through setting up research exhibits along the coast, leading hands-on expeditions for plastic debris removal from beaches, and enhancing recycling infrastructure in underserved areas. These plans are strategically designed to promote sustainable practices and knowledge transfer for long-term impact on participating jurisdictions. Collectively, the project will serve as a regional hub for plastic-climate-health research, advancing economic development, environmental and social equity, and workforce diversity.The transdisciplinary Advancing Social and Environmental Equity through Plastics Research: Education, Innovation, and Inclusion (ASPIRE) project seeks to mitigate the negative impacts of plastic pollution on vulnerable coastal communities in AL and MS, leveraging innovative and inclusive research, education, and outreach. ASPIRE will foster social and environmental equity through a holistic approach, integrating the fields of polymer science, chemistry, (bio)engineering, social/health science, and marine ecology. Specifically, project teams at the USM and AU will: 1) develop advanced detection methods to analyze microplastic contamination in field and aquaculture samples, pairing these findings with community health and behavior surveys to identify microplastic-to-human exposure pathways; 2) synthesize blend compatibilizers containing dynamic crosslinkers to enhance mixed polyolefin recycling, extending the lifespan and improving the performance of recycled products for sustained use; and 3) design inherently recyclable polymer thermosets comprised of dynamic crosslinks using sustainable, bio-derived building blocks, concurrently establishing fundamental chemistry-structure-property relationships. Technology development within these projects will be informed by technoeconomic and life cycle analysis to ensure maximized sustainability and economic feasibility. ASPIRE aims to foster a diverse workforce by actively recruiting underrepresented groups, nurturing early career researchers through comprehensive mentoring programs and seed grant opportunities, and partaking in outreach activities aimed at K-12 students. The program will engage coastal community stakeholders, providing targeted training to local small businesses and focusing on effective plastic waste management. Coastal communities in the Gulf of Mexico region, people with vulnerable health conditions, and racial and ethnic groups from underrepresented populations bear the brunt of plastic pollution and associated climate change. ASPIRE strives to enhance opportunities and elevate the quality of life for these historically marginalized populations in Mississippi and Alabama.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

塑料改变了现代社会，并广泛地使现代社会受益。但是，随着累计全球产量超过90亿吨，塑料和塑料废物的产生和管理与环境污染和气候变化从根本上交织在一起。不可收拾的塑料生命周期不可恢复，因此可以将不可再生的资源用于热解过程或垃圾填埋场，这会产生大量的温室气体排放并产生微塑性污染。这些后果加剧了全球气候变化，使环境生态系统和人类健康处于危险之中，沿海和服务不足的社区以及具有脆弱健康状况的个人，承担不成比例的负担。这项研究基础架构改进曲目2集中的EPSCOR合作奖将使来自两个EPSCOR管辖区（MS和AL）的研究人员，包括南密西西比大学（USM）（USM）（USM）和Auburn University（AU），以建立跨学科计划，以建立一项跨学科的危险挑战挑战及其气候和健康的社区和社区的社会态度，并在社会上构建社区和健康。与区域研究和卫生机构，当地社区，小型企业和回收服务提供商合作，项目团队将评估微塑料对海洋，水产养殖和社区健康的影响，并开发混合兼容者，以改善混合聚烯烃脱氧，并创建下一代Bio Bio Bio bio polymers。该项目以全面的劳动力发展和培训计划为特色，侧重于增强研究人员，学生和行业专业人员的技能和能力，特别着眼于提高茎多样性和包容性。课程要素包括早期研究人员的指导和进步，虚拟专业发展研讨会，学生主导的专题讨论会促进网络和领导才能，本科生的夏季研究计划以及针对建筑，农业工人的专门培训课程，以及在建筑，农业领域和海洋领域的专门培训课程，以更好地管理塑料废物。一项强大的外展计划将通过在海岸上设立研究展览来促进社区参与，并在海滩上清除塑料碎片，并在服务不足的地区进行回收基础设施。这些计划在战略上旨在促进可持续的实践和知识转移，从而对参与司法管辖区的长期影响。 Collectively, the project will serve as a regional hub for plastic-climate-health research, advancing economic development, environmental and social equity, and workforce diversity.The transdisciplinary Advancing Social and Environmental Equity through Plastics Research: Education, Innovation, and Inclusion (ASPIRE) project seeks to mitigate the negative impacts of plastic pollution on vulnerable coastal communities in AL and MS, leveraging innovative and inclusive research, education, and外展。 Aspire将通过整体方法来促进社会和环境平等，从而整合聚合物科学，化学，（BIO）工程，社会/健康科学和海洋生态学领域。具体而言，USM和AU的项目团队将：1）开发先进的检测方法来分析现场和水产养殖样本中的微型污染，将这些发现与社区健康和行为调查相结合，以识别微塑料到人类暴露途径； 2）合成含有动态交联的混合兼容器，以增强混合聚烯烃回收利用，延长寿命并提高回收产品的性能供持续使用； 3）设计固有的可回收聚合物热力器，由使用可持续的生物衍生的构件组成的动态交联组成，同时建立基本的化学结构结构 - 培训关系。这些项目中的技术开发将通过技术经济和生命周期分析来告知，以确保最大化的可持续性和经济可行性。 Aspire旨在通过积极招募代表性不足的群体，通过全面的指导计划和种子赠款机会以及参与针对K-12学生的外展活动来培养早期职业研究人员，以促进多样化的劳动力。该计划将吸引沿海社区利益相关者，为当地的小型企业提供有针对性的培训，并专注于有效的塑料废物管理。墨西哥湾地区的沿海社区，健康状况脆弱的人，人口不足的种族和族裔群体首当其冲地受到塑料污染和相关气候变化的首次。 Aspire努力提高机会并提高密西西比州和阿拉巴马州这些历史上边缘化的人群的生活质量。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛影响的评估来评估的审查标准的。