The University of Nebraska–Lincoln selected nine projects to fund through the Grand Challenges Catalyst Competition in 2024 for an investment of nearly $8.2 million in the program’s third year. A total of $28.2 million has been granted so far through the four-year initiative, a commitment by the Office of the Chancellor and the Office of Research and Innovation to strategically invest funds earmarked for research.
The program’s aim is to invest in transformative, goal-based solutions that leverage Nebraska’s strengths and expertise to solve some of society’s greatest problems. The Grand Challenges initiative aligns with the university’s goals to increase the impact of research and creative activity and to foster interdisciplinary endeavors.
The seven Grand Challenges thematic areas are: anti-racism and racial equity; climate resilience; early childhood education and development; health equity; quantum science and engineering; science and technology literacy for society; and sustainable food and water security.
Nearly 90 members of the university community are involved in the 2024 funded projects.
2024 Catalyst Awards
Catalyst award projects are bold and catalytic, representing significant new research, scholarly and creative activity that have potential to solve grand challenges critical to Nebraska and the world. A two-step external peer review process informed catalyst award project selection.
The average amount of catalyst awards made in 2024 is $3,832,145. Principal investigators and projects are:
- Galen Erickson, Nebraska Cattle Industry Professor of animal science and the Beef Innovation Lab team, “Advancing Development of Assessments, Practices and Tools (ADAPT) to Produce Climate Smart Beef in Grazing Systems.”
- Anne Schutte, associate professor of psychology, and Sarah Karle, associate professor of landscape architecture, “Transforming Environments: Promoting Children’s Health, Development and Learning Indoors, Outdoors and Beyond.”
2024 Planning Grants
Planning grants support the teaming, ideation and development activities for teams to coalesce around one or more Grand Challenges themes and prepare a catalyst proposal.
The average amount of a planning grant funded in 2024 is $74,154 over eight months. Principal investigators and projects are:
- Sina Balkir, professor of electrical and computer engineering, “Integrating Microelectronics in Precision Agriculture: Towards Energy-Efficient Sensing Solutions for Soil, Plant and Animal Monitoring.”
- Dan Novy, assistant professor of emerging media arts, “Thinking Outside the Box(plot): Cultivating a Culture of Creative Data Visualization.”
- Kyungki Kim, assistant professor, Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, “Smart and Connected Long-Term Care Ecosystem with Robotic Caregiver.”
- W. Alex Mason, professor of child, youth and family studies, and Loukia Sarroub, department chair of teaching, learning and teacher education, “Ethical and Equitable Reintegration: Transitioning Youth from Out-of-Home Placement to the Mainstream Classroom.”
- Yanan (Laura) Wang, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, Christine Kelley, professor of mathematics, and Jordan Wheeler, assistant professor of educational psychology, “Education Landscape and Experiential Learning for Quantum Information Science and Technology Workforce Development.”
- Eileen Hebets, George Holmes Professor of biological sciences, Angela Pannier, Swarts Family Chair and professor of biological systems engineering, and Nicole Sexton, assistant professor of biological sciences, “Center for Arthropod Research, Education, and Materials Innovation (CAREMI).”
- Milad Roohi, assistant professor, Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, “Climate Resilient Heartland: Leveraging AI for Equitable Risk Reduction and Adaptation Across Rural and Urban Systems.”
“The Grand Challenges are an opportunity to elevate high-priority research areas for the benefit of society and especially our communities, which is our responsibility as a land-grant institution.”
Chancellor Rodney Bennett
