Cherry Hill, NJ-Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today announced a $300,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for Rowan University’s College of Engineering to foster a deeper understanding of the impact of engineering solutions on the economy, society, and the environment.

"This award from the National Science Foundation has the potential to build a generation of diverse individuals who both understand the science and practice of engineering, and can apply their knowledge to help improve our economy, environment, and society as a whole,” said Rep. Donald Norcross.

The Rowan University project receiving the federal funding promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by way of partnerships with students enrolled in K-12, community college, and university levels of education.

Through a partnership with the Center for Aquatic Sciences (CAS) at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, Rowan University researchers will conduct experiments centered around algae and its versatility as a renewable fuel source and its role in the treatment of wastewater. The algae production facility is the backbone of CAS activities at the Adventure Aquarium as it is food for various zooplankton, filter feeders or larval fishes.  Partnership with CAS will allow researchers to develop K-12 education materials that can be connected to engineering and their algae center.?

The Rowan University project is led by Kauser Jahan, Ph.D., P.E., Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering who shared this reaction with Rep. Norcross: “The National Science Foundation has provided a very exciting opportunity to use live, interdisciplinary systems to develop a cadre of students that will understand the role of the engineer in a global society context.”

Three core goals of the program are: to recruit and retain students in STEM degree programs, increase self-confidence and self-esteem of students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields, and develop educational methods that explore uses of algae to address global engineering challenges.

Rowan University President Ali Houshmand said, “This project will generate new knowledge about engineering students' conceptions of work, the disciplines that inform practice, the populations impacted by engineering solutions, and the role of todays’ engineer in a global and societal context.”

This award represents the second National Science Foundation grant for Rowan University this summer. In July, Rep. Norcross announced the NSF awarded Rowan University $1,922,980 grant to expand engineering opportunities to a more diverse student population.

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