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July 8, 2024 - Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ· faculty and students will participate in a five-year, $20 million National Science Foundation (NSF) project aimed at advancing Kentucky’s climate resiliency.

Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ· is one of eight Kentucky institutions chosen to participate, and will receive $296,269 over the next five years to provide research opportunities in stream ecology and changes with climate, geography and land cover for undergraduates. This is a unique opportunity for students, as this level of research is typically conducted at the graduate level.

Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ· will also host one of the project’s Learning Hubs, which will develop pathways for Kentucky undergraduate students to pursue advanced degrees, while providing technical training for students on a variety of geoscience-related subjects. Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·â€™s Learning Hub will focus on environmental science, stream ecology and community engagement. By enhancing workforce development, positive impacts on Kentucky communities will last far beyond the five-year life of the project.

Climate Resilience through Multidisciplinary Big Data Learning, Prediction and Building Response Systems (CLIMBS) is designed to enhance Kentucky’s long-term growth trajectory as a national leader in climate resiliency and hazard management that will promote industry-university partnerships and attract future funding. CLIMBS is funded by the NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR).

CLIMBS is a collaborative effort lead by the University of Kentucky, and includes University of Louisville, Western Kentucky University, Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·, Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and Thomas More University. Biological Sciences Professor Kristy Hopfensperger is leading Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·â€™s contribution to the research and workforce development efforts of the project.