NU FEWS Sparks Innovation in Food, Energy and Water
Sustaining crucial food, energy and water systems in the face of a changing climate and a burgeoning population worldwide is among our most complex global challenges.
To expand its traditionally strong research in food, energy and water systems, UNL launched the NU FEWS Initiative in 2015. Developed in partnership with Knowinnovation, creators of the Ideas Lab, this universitywide initiative offers an interactive process to build highly interdisciplinary teams and generate innovative project concepts. The goal: novel research proposals responding to Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems (INFEWS), a new priority area led by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
During a series of meetings and workshops, nearly 200 UNL faculty with expertise in fields ranging from physics to economics to geography discussed different dimensions of FEWS and developed novel research questions. A final three-day Jumpstart session generated innovative proposal ideas addressing the question: “How can we build intensive, resilient agro-ecosystems?”
“This initiative lays the groundwork for UNL to play an even more significant role in this area of research so critical to UNL, our state and the world,” said Prem S. Paul, vice chancellor for research and economic development.