KY EPSCoR: FY26: Climate Resilience through Multidisciplinary Big Data Learning, Prediction & Building Response Systems (CLIMBS) Match for 3200006309

The University of Kentucky Research Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, is requesting $3,200,000 to use as the mandatory cost share for a National Science Foundation (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) award. The EPSCoR program funds competitive awards that invest in developing a state’s research infrastructure (people, equipment, facilities), with a focus on increasing the state’s competitiveness to win future awards from NSF and other federal agencies, train the state’s future STEM workforce, and positively impact the state’s economy. It was announced in May 2024 that Kentucky would be one of only two states nationally to receive a $20 million award (award 2344533).Overview of Project: The project has multiple components – research, workforce development, and community engagement. The award is administered by the University of Kentucky in collaboration with seven other institutions: University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, and Thomas More College. The program focuses on increasing Kentucky’s resilience to climate related hazards, including flooding and landslides, through improved understand and prediction of these events. The project will result in hiring ten new faculty at three different KY institutions, support more than 200 students statewide, engage industry, and partner with affected communities to increase awareness of climate hazards and resilience. Scope of Work: The project will study environmental changes in Kentucky and the natural hazards they produce, including the impact of floods and landslides due to extreme weather events. The project aims to advance the fields of climate science, geohazards engineering, and disaster management to facilitate improved sustainability, resilience, and adaptative engineering to protect Kentucky from climate change. The project will improve infrastructure and public safety for Kentucky citizens, benefitting Kentucky''s key industries of manufacturing, data analytics, energy transition, distribution/transportation, and engineering, and train the next generation workforce in science and engineering. Further aims include enhancing research infrastructure statewide, engaging students in geoscience and engineering and preparing a workforce capable of providing solutions to Kentucky’s unique climate challenges. Community Impact: Project research will target underserved communities in eastern Kentucky, a region that is especially vulnerable to climate hazards. The project has research sites in Appalachian priority counties within the Kentucky River Area Development District, including Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, and Wolfe counties. Initial monitoring sites will be deployed in these socio-economically vulnerable areas to bridge with project elements designed to improve education and outreach in Appalachia. Through improvement of hazard prediction, the project will improve the resiliency of Kentucky''s physical infrastructure such as buildings, bridges, and roadways, making them less vulnerable to extreme weather. While protecting communities, this work will also provide solutions to protecting the Commonwealth’s distribution and transportation infrastructure, which is vitally important to the country and to Kentucky specifically. Support from the Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation program will allow us to accept the federal award and facilitate this important work addressing both federal and state priorities. Thank you for considering this application for support to the GRANT program.