The College of Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) will use this Phase II CREST funding for its Research on Environmental Sustainability of Semi-Arid Coastal Areas (RESSACA) project. The project's goal is to become a nationally competitive leader in research on environmental engineering and sustainability, by identifying and advancing technology and knowledge generation goals, expanding partnership successes, and increasing the Hispanic environmental engineering graduate pool. Objectives are to: 1) become a major research resource and partner for environmental sustainability with institutions and industry in the South Texas-Mexico border region; 2) integrate research and education by engaging K-PhD students and the public; 3) increase Hispanic access and success in advanced environmental engineering degrees and their representation as environmental engineering faculty; and 4) transfer research and technology to the public. Research will focus on environmental sustainability in the semi-arid coastal regions of the Texas US-Mexico border, using three integrated subprojects: (1) Environmental Modeling and Informatics (EMI); (2) Environmental Monitoring and Assessments (EMA); and (3) Sustainable Technologies for the Environment (STE). The Univ. of Texas at Brownsville and Texas A&M International Univ., Hispanic-Serving Institutions will provide a student pipeline and regional-level research collaborations; National-level partnerships with Sandia National Laboratories have been formed to study trans-boundary water management and other topics. Bi-national research alliances developed with Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) (Mexico) during RESSACA-1 will be expanded in RESSACA-2 to monitor and model trans-boundary fluxes which will provide a solid foundation for creating pertinent technologies and new knowledge for science-based decision making focused on sustainability issues affecting the Texas-Mexico border region.
The Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology - Research on Environmental Sustainability in Semi-Arid Coastal Areas (CREST-RESSACA) has achieved its goals of building capacity at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) and enhancing the diversity of the nation’s workforce by providing access and opportunities to minority groups, especially Hispanics in STEM disciplines. Since the start of the second phase of CREST-RESSACA in 2007, our center has graduated 8 Ph.D. and 19 M.S. students. A total of 105 graduate and undergraduate students (71% Hispanics) and one postdoctoral research associate have been supported by the center. The main research focus of CREST-RESSACA is on the environmental sustainability in the semi-arid coastal regions of the Texas US-Mexico border. Our center consists of three integrated thrust areas: 1) Environmental Modeling and Informatics (EMI); 2) Environmental Monitoring and Assessments (EMA); and 3) Sustainable Technologies for the Environment (STE). EMI uses mathematical and informatic techniques to develop new decision support tools for integrated water resources management and air quality planning activities. EMA collects high-quality data to assess anthropogenic impacts and identify underlying pollutant fate and transport mechanisms. STE develops low-cost technologies and innovative products to mitigate hazardous air and wastewater streams and research bio-fuel alternatives. The research outcomes have led to new theoretical insights and practical applications which have been disseminated through high-quality peer-reviewed publications, books, proceedings and technical reports and presentations. Research outcomes: CREST RESSACA investigators disseminated research findings in over 400 journal articles, book chapters, peer-reviewed conference proceedings and technical presentations. Two disclosures of invention were filed for technologies that aim to develop biofuels from citrus waste. A Springer book titled Environmental Sustainability Issues in the South Texas-Mexico Border Region was published by our center in the Summer of 2013. This book includes eleven book chapters that highlight the environmental sustainability problems specific to the South Texas-Mexico border region which is known for its climate extremes ranging from severe drought conditions to hurricanes. The book focuses on water and air pollution issues such as outflows into inter-coastal waterways, marshes, lagoon and bays, impacts of concentrated discharges on downstream receiving waters, water quality treatment ability of wetlands, influence of climate on air quality, particle transport in the atmosphere and effects of air pollution on people’s health among several others. While the book addresses challenges along the South Texas-Mexico border region, the findings and recommendations are beneficial to researchers worldwide in regions with similar issues. Three of the faculty associated with the center, members of TAMUK’s Department of Environmental Engineering, were awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation Career Award. CREST RESSACA faculty are some of the founding members of the Eagle Ford Center for Research, Education, and Outreach (EFCREO) established in September, 2013. The EFCREO is housed in the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering at TAMUK. The mission of the EFCREO is to partner with local and regional industries, academia, and government agencies to provide a wide range of technical support for the sustainable development of the Eagle Ford Shale Reserve. Education outcomes: Our center was a key participant in the development of a new bachelor’s degree program in Environmental Engineering at TAMUK, that started in 2009. Our center has also been a strong supporter of the existing M.S. and Ph.D. engineering curricula at TAMUK and partners with other minority-serving institutions. A major avenue for the integration of CREST RESSACA research into education has been through our center’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity program. Most of the CREST-RESSACA undergraduate research assistants have been students from the Environmental Engineering program. This has fostered an excellent pipeline within TAMUK to Environmental Engineering graduate programs. Outreach activities targeted the dissemination of research to K-12 school teachers and a variety of other stakeholders through formal and informal science outlets. The center’s Research Experience for Teachers program allowed RESSACA research to be used in K-12 education through lessons plans created by elementary, middle and high school teachers conducting summer research with RESSACA faculty and students. CREST-RESSACA contributed to the professional development in Environmental Engineering and Science of 37 teachers from 30 different local and regional Texas Independent School Districts. Focused conferences and workshops organized by our center highlighted bi-national sustainability issues that emphasized critical aspects of environmental sustainability and showcased CREST-RESSACA’s efforts to foster infrastructure development, enhance research capabilities and create strategic partnerships to address issues of social relevance in South Texas. CREST-RESSACA continues to be a national leader in research on Environmental Engineering and sustainability and fosters sustainable development particularly along the South Texas-Mexico border region. We continue our success to increase access and completion of advanced Environmental Engineering degrees for our predominantly Hispanic student population of South Texas.
