ESI’s Seed Grant program supports novel faculty research that holds potential for significant impact on pressing problems in climate, environment, and sustainability.

ESI aims to expand and accelerate progress toward environmental solutions in three vital domains:

2017 Seed Grants

2017 Research Seed Grants

CLIMATE SCIENCE AND EARTH SYSTEMS

Improved Climate Modeling through Machine-learning and Data-driven Approaches
PIs: Paul O'Gorman (Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences), Elfatih Eltahir (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
SDG 13: Climate Action
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Genetically Engineered Solutions to Environmental Nitrogen Paradoxes
PI: Andrew Babbin (Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences)
SDG 13: Climate Action
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CITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Achieving Water Affordability in America’s Shrinking Cities: Solutions for Financial Sustainability and Social Equity
PIs: Lawrence Susskind and Gabriella Carolini (Urban Studies and Planning)
SDG 6: Clean Water and SanitationSDG 10: Reduced Inequalities SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Decarbonized Energy Systems for the New Volpe Center
PIs: Leslie Norford and Christoph Reinhart (Architecture), David Hsu (Urban Studies and Planning)
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean EnergySDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Sustainability of Autonomy-enabled Transportation Systems
PIs: Steven Barrett and Sertac Karaman (Aeronautics and Astronautics)
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

Beneficial Use of Industrial Wastes in the Built Environment
PIs: Elsa Olivetti (Materials Science and Engineering), John Ochsendorf (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureSDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
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2015 Seed Grants

2015 Research Seed Grants

CLIMATE SCIENCE AND EARTH SYSTEMS

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Tropical Peatlands: Biogeochemical Processes and Mitigation Strategies
PIs: Charles Harvey, Benjamin Kocar and Martin Polz (Civil & Environmental Engineering), Shuhei Ono and Roger Summons (Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences)
SDG 13: Climate ActionSDG 15: Life on Land
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Opportunities for Mitigating CH4 and other Non-CO2 energy-technology-related GHG Emissions
PIs: Jessika Trancik (Engineering Systems Division), Francis O’Sullivan (MIT Energy Initiative)
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean EnergySDG 13: Climate Action
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Developing Solutions for Human and Environmental Health Risks Created by Exponentially Increasing Exposures to Lanthanide Metals
PIs: John Essigmann (Biological Engineering and Chemistry), Bevin Engelward (Biological Engineering), Harold Hemond (Civil & Environmental Engineering)
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-BeingSDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
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CITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Fostering Sustainable Consumption in U.S. Cities
PI: Eran Ben-Joseph (Urban Studies & Planning)
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesSDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
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Improved Management of Common Pool Resources
PIs: Dennis McLaughlin (Civil & Environmental Engineering), Parag Pathak (Economics)
SDG 6: Clean Water and SanitationSDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
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Clearer Skies in Beijing: Collecting and Interpreting Relevant Spatio-temporal Data for Air Quality Assessment
PIs: Marta Gonzalez (Civil & Environmental Engineering) and Jinhua Zhao (Urban Studies & Planning)
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-BeingSDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

Will New Limits on Coal use in China Reduce Toxic Air Pollutants across Asia?
PIs: Valerie Karplus (Sloan) and Noelle Selin (Engineering Systems Division and Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences)
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-BeingSDG 13: Climate Action
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Metals and Minerals for the Environment
PIs: Antoine Allanore (Materials Science & Engineering), T. Alan Hatton (Chemical Engineering)
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
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Digging Deep: An Integrated Approach for Assessing the Impacts of Deep-sea Mining
PIs: Thomas Peacock and Pierre Lermusiaux (Mechanical Engineering), Glenn Flierl (Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences)
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionSDG 14: Life Below Water
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