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EPA Awards Georgia Southern University with Grant to Develop Innovative Environmental Solutions

Release Date: 06/21/2013
Contact Information: William McBride, 404-562-8378 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main), mcbride.william@epa.gov

Atlanta – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a team of students from Georgia Southern University (GSU), located in Statesboro, GA, received the coveted People, Prosperity, Planet (P3) Award at the 9^th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The GSU P3 Team, which consist of nine students from the School of Engineering were awarded for further innovating the Low Temperature Combustion diesel engine to operate on locally sourced n-buthanol and cottonseed oil; thus designing a diesel engine that could create even lower NOx and soot emissions. The award allows the GSU P3 Team, which is mentored by Associate Professor of ME and Allen E. Paulson Chair of Renewable Energy Dr. Valentin Soloiu, and Spencer Harp, to receive a grant of up to $90,000 to further develop their design and potentially bring it to the marketplace. Previous P3 award winners have started successful businesses and are globally marketing their technologies.

This year’s competition featured approximately 300 student innovators showcasing their sustainable projects designed to protect people’s health, the environment, encourage economic growth, and use natural resources more efficiently. A panel of expert judges convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science recommended the winners out of 45 teams following two days of judging. The teams that competed this year proposed potential solutions to worldwide environmental problems including in many developing countries.

Every year, the National Sustainable Design Expo features EPA’s P3 competition and also highlights other sustainable initiatives, programs and technologies developed and implemented by nonprofit organizations, government, and state agencies. This year’s expo was co-sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers and Engineers without Borders, USA.

More information on the P3 award competition: www.epa.gov/p3/2013winners

More information on the P3 program: https://www.epa.gov/P3/
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