CSTEPS participated in a planning grant effort with ASU's Fulton Schools of Engineering. I-BREATHE focused on designing the built environment to actively remove harmful gases in outdoor and indoor environments, thereby contributing to the wellbeing of occupants, the environment, and the community while enhancing the durability of the built environment. This planning grant activities help developed an impactful community-centered vision for I BREATHE followed by a well-thought-out proposal to pursue establishment of a Center with NSF ERC funding and the support of partners and stakeholders. As part of the planning grant, workshops were set up for co-creation of new knowledge between university researchers and the community stakeholders. Such planning meetings allowed us to identify societal and community challenges that were addressed as part of this proposal and further provide opportunities to work with scholars from social science disciplines (e.g., economics, management, and psychology) to further refine the scope and research activities to maximize social gains. With the help of our multifaceted plan for education and workforce development, we aimed to provide the concept of breathing buildings to every household, so that every individual could benefit from the new role of the built environment in human health, environmental wellbeing, social equity, and community resilience.
More information: NSF ERC: Planning Grant: Engineering Research Center for Innovative Built and Regenerative Environments for Advancing Timeless Habitability and Equity (I-BREATHE), (EEC #2124284, Co-PI, 2021-2022) https://www.nsf.gov/