New York State

Pollution Prevention

Institute

5th Annual

R & D Student Competition

Informational Webinar - October 23, 2015

© 2015 Rochester Institute of Technology

R & D Student CompetitionBackground:

• Part of NYSP2I R&D Program

• Guided by the 4 NYSP2I partner universities:

• Established to enable students to propose, research, develop

and design solutions to real world environmental challenges

• Encourages innovation, creative thinking, problem solving,

team work, and collaboration across disciplines

R & D Student CompetitionWho can participate?• Undergraduate and/or graduate students enrolled at an

institute of higher education located in NYS

(must be enrolled for the entire competition)

• Teams must be comprised of 2 - 4 student members

• Each team must have a faculty or staff advisor

• Students from different academic areas are encouraged to

work together to create the strongest team possible

• Teams with a mix of undergraduate and graduate students will

be considered at the graduate level.

• Multi-institute teams are allowable. One institute must be

named as the lead that will be responsible for the award.

R & D Student Competition

Teams are challenged to come up with new,

innovative approaches to address one of the following

topics:

1. Food Waste Source Reduction/Prevention in Grocery

Stores

2. Smart Home- Reduction in Energy Consumption

3. Community or University Environmental Challenge

Topic 1. Food Waste Source

Reduction/Prevention in Grocery Stores

Student teams are challenged to find an innovative way to

reduce food waste at grocery stores.

The focus food waste source reduction or prevention - the

strategy of preventing food waste before it is created.

Example: A project may use technology/innovative concepts to

address management and control of food items subject to

expiration dates to minimize waste due to expired items.

For this competition, the project should NOT focus on what to do

with food waste once it’s generated (i.e. we are not looking for

composting, anaerobic digester or other such projects).

Topic 2. Smart Home - Reduction in

Energy Consumption

To reduce energy consumption through the control of home devices, such as smart thermostats, smart appliances, and smart outlets, there is a need for visualization of energy consumption of a house, enabling

homeowners to make decisions that would result in lowering their energy footprint.

For this topic, teams are challenged to develop a concept for a control device interface. The interface should help home owners understand their energy use and help them make decisions leading to energy use

reduction. Human behavior should be considered as concepts are developed.

For the competition, your device does not have to be tied to actual working sensors. However, computer simulation is suggested.

Topic 3: Community or University

Environmental Challenge

For this topic, teams will identify a specific activity in the community or at their university with a large environmental footprint and will develop an innovative solution to reduce

or eliminate the environmental impact of the activity (e.g. energy consumption, waste reduction, water use

reduction)

Teams are strongly encouraged to partner with a relevant university department and/or an external organization or

business as part of their project.

R & D Student Competition

Application Stage:• Form a team

• Select one of the three topics

• Develop a proposed approach to address the challenge you’ve identified

• Submit an application describing your proposed approach

Be sure to address the innovative scientific or technical aspects of the proposed approach and describe how it relates to the three components of sustainability: environment, economy and society (i.e. people, prosperity, planet)

Applications must be submitted by email by

Friday, November 13 at 11:59PM

R & D Student CompetitionSelection and Award:• Up to 16 teams will be selected by NYSP2I to participate in the

competition (anticipate 8 teams per level)

• The school of each selected team will execute an Agreement with RIT formally awarding funds for project costs.

• Once signed, the school may invoice RIT for the full project cost budget

• Expenses for travel to the exhibition are

reimbursed to the school after the

exhibition.

• Prizes are distributed to the teams after the

exhibition/award luncheon

R & D Student CompetitionProject Expectations:• All team members work on project

• Seek guidance from and update your advisor on progress

• Submit a project report

• Prepare a PowerPoint presentation, poster, and visual representation of your solution

• Exhibit at the NYSP2I R&D Student Competition exhibition at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on April 22, 2016 and deliver an oral presentation about the project to the competition judges

• Attend the awards luncheon immediately following the exhibition and judging

• Keep all exhibition travel receipts

R & D Student Competition

Team Funding:

• Project Expenses

– Up to $1,250 available for project related costs

– Personnel/labor related expenses are not allowable

– Indirect Costs are not allowable

– Expenses must be reasonable and necessary to conduct

the project

• Exhibition Travel Expenses reimbursed

• Official Awards & Distribution of Funds

– Funds are managed by your school

– A sponsored research authorized signature from your

school is required on the cover page of your application.

R & D Student Competition

Prizes:Three prizes will be awarded:

1st Place Jeff Sama Award: $4,000

2nd Place: $1,500

3rd Place: $ 500

Winners will be announced at the awards luncheon at the

exhibition on April 22, 2016

*Twenty percent of each prize will be allocated to the team advisor to be used at their

discretion, at their university. The balance will be dispersed by the advisor to the team

members.

R & D Student Competition

Application Instructions:

• Cover Page (must use form provided online)

• Project Description

• Project Budget

Follow the instructions provided in the RFA https://www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/sites/rit.edu.affiliate.nysp2i/files/nysp2i_2015

_2016_student_comp_rfa.pdf

R & D Student Competition

Timeline

Proposal Due:

November 13, 2015

Award Notification:

November 20, 2015

Project Reports Due:

March 31, 2016

Student Competition Exhibition:

April 22, 2016

R & D Student Competition

For more Information:

http://www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/rd-student-competition

Questions?

Contacting NYSP2INew York State Pollution Prevention Institute

111 Lomb Memorial Drive

Rochester, New York 14617

Telephone: 585-475-2512

Fax: 585-475-6610

Kate McArdle

Community Outreach Specialist, NYSP2I

Email: kwmp2i@rit.edu

Telephone: 585-475-2399

Kathy Kosciolek

Assistant Director for Program Administration

Interim Business Manager, NYSP2I

Email: kxkasp@rit.edu

Telephone: 585-475-4325

Nabil Nasr

Associate Provost and Director, Golisano Institute for Sustainability

Interim Director, NYSP2I

Technical Advisory Committee Chair

Email: nzneie@rit.edu