New York State Pollution Prevention Institute 5 th Annual R & D Student Competition Informational Webinar - October 23, 2015 2015 Rochester Institute of Technology
Background: Part of NYSP2I R&D Program Guided by the 4 NYSP2I partner universities: Established to enable students to propose, research, develop and design solutions to real world environmental challenges Encourages innovation, creative thinking, problem solving, team work, and collaboration across disciplines
Who can participate? Undergraduate and/or graduate students enrolled at an institute of higher education located in NYS (must be enrolled for the entire competition) Teams must be comprised of 2-4 student members Each team must have a faculty or staff advisor Students from different academic areas are encouraged to work together to create the strongest team possible Teams with a mix of undergraduate and graduate students will be considered at the graduate level. Multi-institute teams are allowable. One institute must be named as the lead that will be responsible for the award.
Teams are challenged to come up with new, innovative approaches to address one of the following topics: 1. Food Waste Source Reduction/Prevention in Grocery Stores 2. Smart Home- Reduction in Energy Consumption 3. Community or University Environmental Challenge
Topic 1. Food Waste Source Reduction/Prevention in Grocery Stores Student teams are challenged to find an innovative way to reduce food waste at grocery stores. The focus food waste source reduction or prevention - the strategy of preventing food waste before it is created. Example: A project may use technology/innovative concepts to address management and control of food items subject to expiration dates to minimize waste due to expired items. For this competition, the project should NOT focus on what to do with food waste once it s generated (i.e. we are not looking for composting, anaerobic digester or other such projects).
Topic 2. Smart Home - Reduction in Energy Consumption To reduce energy consumption through the control of home devices, such as smart thermostats, smart appliances, and smart outlets, there is a need for visualization of energy consumption of a house, enabling homeowners to make decisions that would result in lowering their energy footprint. For this topic, teams are challenged to develop a concept for a control device interface. The interface should help home owners understand their energy use and help them make decisions leading to energy use reduction. Human behavior should be considered as concepts are developed. For the competition, your device does not have to be tied to actual working sensors. However, computer simulation is suggested.
Topic 3: Community or University Environmental Challenge For this topic, teams will identify a specific activity in the community or at their university with a large environmental footprint and will develop an innovative solution to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact of the activity (e.g. energy consumption, waste reduction, water use reduction) Teams are strongly encouraged to partner with a relevant university department and/or an external organization or business as part of their project.
Application Stage: Form a team Select one of the three topics Develop a proposed approach to address the challenge you ve identified Submit an application describing your proposed approach Be sure to address the innovative scientific or technical aspects of the proposed approach and describe how it relates to the three components of sustainability: environment, economy and society (i.e. people, prosperity, planet) Applications must be submitted by email by Friday, November 13 at 11:59PM
Selection and Award: Up to 16 teams will be selected by NYSP2I to participate in the competition (anticipate 8 teams per level) The school of each selected team will execute an Agreement with RIT formally awarding funds for project costs. Once signed, the school may invoice RIT for the full project cost budget Expenses for travel to the exhibition are reimbursed to the school after the exhibition. Prizes are distributed to the teams after the exhibition/award luncheon
Project Expectations: All team members work on project Seek guidance from and update your advisor on progress Submit a project report Prepare a PowerPoint presentation, poster, and visual representation of your solution Exhibit at the NYSP2I R&D Student Competition exhibition at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on April 22, 2016 and deliver an oral presentation about the project to the competition judges Attend the awards luncheon immediately following the exhibition and judging Keep all exhibition travel receipts
Team Funding: Project Expenses Up to $1,250 available for project related costs Personnel/labor related expenses are not allowable Indirect Costs are not allowable Expenses must be reasonable and necessary to conduct the project Exhibition Travel Expenses reimbursed Official Awards & Distribution of Funds Funds are managed by your school A sponsored research authorized signature from your school is required on the cover page of your application.
Prizes: Three prizes will be awarded: 1 st Place Jeff Sama Award: $4,000 2 nd Place: $1,500 3 rd Place: $ 500 Winners will be announced at the awards luncheon at the exhibition on April 22, 2016 *Twenty percent of each prize will be allocated to the team advisor to be used at their discretion, at their university. The balance will be dispersed by the advisor to the team members.
Application Instructions: Cover Page (must use form provided online) Project Description Project Budget Follow the instructions provided in the RFA https://www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/sites/rit.edu.affiliate.nysp2i/files/nysp2i_2015 _2016_student_comp_rfa.pdf
Timeline Proposal Due: November 13, 2015 Award Notification: November 20, 2015 Project Reports Due: March 31, 2016 Student Competition Exhibition: April 22, 2016
For more Information: http://www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/rd-student-competition
Questions?
Contacting NYSP2I New York State Pollution Prevention Institute 111 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, New York 14617 Telephone: 585-475-2512 Fax: 585-475-6610 Kate McArdle Community Outreach Specialist, NYSP2I Email: kwmp2i@rit.edu Telephone: 585-475-2399 Kathy Kosciolek Assistant Director for Program Administration Interim Business Manager, NYSP2I Email: kxkasp@rit.edu Telephone: 585-475-4325 Nabil Nasr Associate Provost and Director, Golisano Institute for Sustainability Interim Director, NYSP2I Technical Advisory Committee Chair Email: nzneie@rit.edu