CENTER DIRECTOR
INDUCTED INTO TEMPLE UNIVERSITY’S
$1 MILLION RESEARCH AWARDS CLUB
Since its inception in July 2000, the Center for Sustainable Communities has grown rapidly to become a valued resource among local, state, and federal agencies. From new floodplain mapping to township smart growth plans, the Center’s research has focused primarily on projects aimed at moving our communities toward sustainability and increasing quality of life.
Following a
$1.5 million federal grant
received from the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development in January 2001, the Center has made great strides in
acquiring funding for its community projects.
To recognize that success, Dr. Jeffrey Featherstone, Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities and Chair of the Department of Community and Regional Planning, will be inducted into Temple University’s “$1 Million Research Awards Club” during a special dinner on Thursday, April 29, at the Sugarloaf Conference Center in Philadelphia.
“All too often in the past, we have failed to acknowledge the faculty who have contributed significantly to our research funding. There are very few university-wide research awards and virtually no university-wide recognition of our highly funded faculty,” said Dr. Kenneth Soprano, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies in a letter to the University Deans. “For this reason, the Provost (Ira. M. Schwartz) and I are forming the $1 Million Research Awards Club. This group will be composed of those faculty who have successfully obtained externally funded research grants and contracts which equal or exceed $1 million since July 1, 2001.”
Since July 2001, the Center has acquired more than $1.2 million in research funding, including close to $900,000 for an ongoing study of the Pennypack Creek Watershed alone. Funding has been awarded by several agencies including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the William Penn Foundation, and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“I’m pleased that Ambler College and the Center are being recognized for this achievement. It’s not one person; it’s a large number of faculty and staff contributing to the effort,” said Dr. Featherstone. “I think the reason we are successful in acquiring funding is that we have the people to do the work. We have faculty from various departments who are very skilled in applied research in engineering, planning, geology, horticulture, and landscape architecture.”
According to Dr. Featherstone, the Center is able to “engage master’s level students in conducting this research.”
“Many projects are conducted as part of the graduate studies undertaken by the Department of Community and Regional Planning. It’s an excellent experience for the students and an economical alternative for the funding agencies,” he said. “Instead of having to go to one agency for stormwater management, and another agency for floodplain mapping, and another agency for zoning ordinances, we can perform the multidisciplinary work required for municipalities to meet various government mandates.”
For more information on the Center for Sustainable Communities, call 215-283-1540 or visit www.csc.temple.edu.
Temple University Ambler College is dedicated to promoting sustainable communities, effective land use, and environmental awareness. Students can choose from a B.S. and M.S. in Community and Regional Planning; B.S., A.S., or credit certificate programs in Horticulture; or a B.S. in Landscape Architecture. Students may begin over 100 Temple undergraduate programs and complete a variety of degree programs on the Ambler campus in areas such as liberal arts, business, education, communications, and nursing. For more information on Temple University Ambler’s undergraduate programs, call 215-283-1252.CONTACT: James Duffy, (215) 283-1290, duffyj@temple.edu, release available via e-mail
