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Strategic Plan Goals

  1. Research Infrastructure and Scientific Knowledge: AFI
  2. Research Infrastructure and Scientific Knowledge: GWA
  3. Education and Workforce Development
  4. Diversity
  5. Partnerships

Research Infrastructure and Scientific Knowledge: AFI

Advance fundamental science and inform the application of that science through the Appalachian Freshwater Initiative (AFI)

The Appalachian region faces a unique combination of water-related stressors that include coal and gas extraction, energy production, and insufficient wastewater facilities (Merovich et al., 2013, Petty et al., 2013; Strager et al., 2009, 2011). Of particular concern is broad-scale occurrence of untreated wastewater effluent that constrains economic development within Appalachia and limits access to clean freshwater downstream. We propose to use an array of approaches to develop the strongest predictive and analytical tools possible and improve our understanding of interactive ecosystem level impacts.

Specific objectives:

  • Development of water quality sensors (indicators). The goal is to improve detection of chemical, physical, and biological threats to water quality.
  • Advance understanding of the complex, interactive impacts of environmental disturbance from the molecular to the watershed scale.
  • Development of innovative predictive models.

Research Infrastructure and Scientific Knowledge: GWA

Advance fundamental science and inform the application of that science through Gravitational Wave Astrophysics (GWA) research

We are advancing three forefront Gravitational waves astrophysics (GWA) research foci by developing tools and building infrastructure in (1) Gravitational Wave (GW) Detection and Algorithm Development, (2) Gravitational Wave Signals and Populations, and (3) Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) Development. These efforts will enable a new era of GWA research and are essential to building a network of researchers and students in West Virginia who are trained to take advantage of opportunities in this emerging field.

Specific objectives

  • Develop and apply new algorithms for gravitational wave detection and for characterization of gravitational wave sources in both Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and PTA data.
  • Model the electromagnetic signatures expected from LIGO and PTA gravitational wave sources and carry out searches for such signatures at multiple wavelengths.
  • Increase the number of millisecond pulsars used in PTAs through sensitive, all-sky surveys with the Green Bank Telescope.

Education and Workforce Development

Develop a healthy STEM pipeline in West Virginia to provide a STEM-capable workforce for the future

We propose to grow the number of technically competent graduates from the state’s colleges, universities, and secondary schools through a multi-tiered strategy. The program ranges from engaging youth in STEM experiences in middle school to encouraging growth of industries that provide employment for graduates with STEM skills at every degree level.

  • Enhance the continuing education/professional development of high quality science teachers entering the field.
  • Support early career teachers in learning to teach through studying their teaching, thereby increasing teacher retention during most vulnerable period of teacher’s career.
  • Engage pre-service and early-career teachers in authentic research experiences.
  • Engage the community to disseminate information about our target science research areas (AFI and GWA).
  • Improve workforce development.

Diversity

Improve the diversity of the STEM workforce in West Virginia, including underrepresented persons (UREP), underrepresented minorities (URM), and female candidates.

We propose to use outreach activities to increase college awareness and enlarge the pool of college-bound UREP and URM STEM students. At the same time, we propose to increase UREP and URM student participation and student retention within the involved departments.

Specific objectives

  • Increase college and STEM awareness of diverse groups.
  • Increase retention rate of first-time, degree-seeking full-time freshmen; first-time, degree-seeking part-time freshmen; first-time, degree-seeking low-income freshmen; first-time, degree-seeking, URM freshmen, first-time, degree-seeking returning adult students; first-time, degree-seeking transfer students.
  • Increase participation of UREP, URM, and women in the AFI/GWA groups to help increase these groups’ participation in STEM in general.

Partnerships

Build the foundation for technology transfer from the academic institutions to industry while also developing partnerships with other institutions of higher education, including community colleges; K-12 schools; existing and new businesses and industries, and national laboratories; as well as other entities relevant to our research We propose to build multiple partnerships and collaborations upon the contributions and connections the partner institutions have with their stakeholders and communities. While the initial group includes WVU, MU, and WVSU, there are smaller, undergraduate institutions that are active participants in this proposal as well, such as Shepherd University (SU) and West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC).

Specific objectives

  • Develop partnerships with K-12 schools, community groups, public utilities, state and federal agencies, and domestics and international universities.
  • Grow partnerships with national laboratories.