Projects aimed at nuclear energy and education at Washington State University Tri-Cities are among the 10 projects to receive inaugural awards from a research initiative from WSU President Betsy Cantwell. 

More than 140 applications were submitted for the President’s Big Ideas Initiative, launched earlier this year to bolster high-impact science and enhance WSU’s role as the state’s public research lab, according to a release.  

“In the Office of Research, our mission is to power WSU’s research enterprise by sparking new ideas, driving bold innovation, and delivering real world impact,” said Vice President for Research Kim Christen in a statement. “Fulfilling that mission means strengthening WSU’s role as the state’s public research lab – where enduring, solutions focused work is carried out in partnership with communities across Washington and the region.” 

The winning WSU Tri-Cities projects are: 

• $300,000 to The OneNuclear Initiative, an effort to coordinate research, development and education related to the industry across the WSU system. The project is led by Noel Schulz at WSU Tri-Cities’ Institute for Northwest Energy Futures. 
• $75,000 to Professional Educator Pathways, an effort aimed at creating a system of microcredentials and certificates to help K-12 educators confidently build skills and ethically integrate artificial intelligence, assistive technology and other advanced teaching methods into their classrooms. Jonah Firestone, a WSU Tri-Cities associate professor in the College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences, is a co-lead researcher on the project.