Region 7 Science Program
What is the Regional Science Program?
![EPA region 7 science program logo](/system/files/styles/small/private/images/2022-08/R7%20Science%20Prog%20logo%20web.png?itok=0gEZSqHo)
The Regional Science Program links EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) with EPA's Regional Offices and emphasizes building networks and partnerships between Regional and ORD scientists, effectively transferring research results on high-priority regional science issues and conducting science outreach to the states, tribes, and communities.
On this page:
- Success Stories
- ORD Research and Small Business Funding Opportunities
- Upcoming ORD Events, Webinars and Training
- ORD Publications, Products, Resources and Toolkits
EPA Region 7’s Science Priorities aim to:
- Study impacts of emerging contaminants such as PFAS, ethylene oxide (EtO), and microplastics.
- Use social science research to assist communities with climate and resiliency planning.
- Evaluate/address climate impacts of harmful algal blooms and nutrients on water resources.
- Develop remote sensing techniques to measure burn areas/impacts on downwind communities.
- Identify preventive and mitigating approaches for community resiliency.
- Develop real-time measurement methodologies to characterize EtO emissions.
- Develop technologies to expedite large-scale, complex mining/mineral processing site remediation.
The cross-cutting Issues of technical support, environmental justice, climate change, and reuse are included in each science priority.
Success Stories
Region 7 Science Academy Webinar Series, May 2024: Electric Vehicle Adoption Potential and Environmental Implications
Dr. Jeremy Michalek, Carnegie Mellon University, presented this ORD STAR grantee research project on plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and the potential for helping to mitigate climate change and reduce health damages from air pollution when charged with clean power sources.
View the May 2 recording online.
Abstract: In this webinar, Professor Michalek presented key findings from recent and ongoing research on technical, economic, environmental, and policy dimensions of electric vehicles, including:
- Effects of technology advancement on consumer adoption of electric cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and delivery trucks.
- Trends in EV consequential life-cycle emissions and the biggest levers to reduce them over the next decade of transition.
Link to publication: Cleaning Up While Changing Gears: The Role of Battery Design, Fossil Fuel Power Plants, and Vehicle Policy for Reducing Emissions in the Transition to Electric Vehicles
ORD Research and Small Business Funding Opportunities
UPDATED: 2024-2025 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Solicitation/Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) – EPA, as part of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, is seeking proposals from eligible small businesses to develop novel environmental technologies in the following topic areas: Clean and Safe Water, Air Quality and Climate, Homeland Security, Circular Economy/Sustainable Materials, and Safer Chemicals. See the official solicitation/BAA posted on FedConnect to view full descriptions for each topic area and other details. Proposals must be submitted through FedConnect by the required deadline.
- Opened: June 26, 2024
- Closes: Aug. 21, 2024
- Solicitation/BAA number: 68HERC24R0185
National Priorities Funding: Occurrence and Implications of De Facto Water Reuse on Drinking Water Supplies – Throughout the nation, drinking water supplies of many communities are directly influenced by the presence of treated municipal wastewater through the process of “de facto water reuse,” which occurs when a drinking water supply contains a significant fraction of wastewater effluent, typically from upstream wastewater discharges. This contrasts with planned potable reuse where highly treated wastewater is purposefully used to supplement drinking water supplies. Understanding the risks from this form of unplanned water reuse is important to ensure clean and safe drinking water. De facto reuse is a common occurrence across the U.S. and other countries, but there is relatively little known about the impacts and potential risks. Additional research is needed to better understand the impact of de facto reuse nationwide, including potential human health risks and the interventions needed to mitigate those risks. This National Priorities funding opportunity solicits innovative research to address the knowledge gaps on the impact, risk, and mitigation of de facto reuse in drinking water sources across the U.S.
- Opened: June 27, 2024
- Closes: Aug. 21, 2024
- Funding Opportunity number: EPA-G2024-ORD-E1
EPA Research Grants – EPA’s Research Grants Program aims to stimulate and support scientific and engineering research that advances EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.
- Research Grant Topics (on left at link above): Air Research, Climate Change Research, Ecosystems Research, Health Research, Safer Chemicals Research, Sustainability Research, and Water Research
- Opens and closes: See “Open RFAs” at link above
- Award amounts: Vary by topic
If you are interested in receiving email RFA updates on research funding opportunities, sign up on EPA’s website.
Recording of Region 7 Science Program/ORD Special Webinar: EPA STAR and P3 Program Overview
- Recorded Monday, June 26, 2023
- Want to learn more about ORD’s research funding opportunities for colleges and universities? ORD’s Dr. Intaek Hahn conducted a one-hour webinar on two researching funding opportunities:
- Science to Achieve Results (STAR)
- People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Student Design Competition
- Dr. Hahn presented on both STAR and P3, solicitation announcements, criteria, process for submittals, timelines, and the process from submission to award to implementation.
Upcoming ORD Events, Webinars and Training
- Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 2 to 3 p.m. CDT
- Register here
EPA Computational Toxicology Communities of Practice Webinar Series – PFAS in "Real World" Samples
- Thursday, July 25, 2024, from 10 to 11 a.m. CDT
- Register here
ORD-Office of Water Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series – Drinking Water System Resilience
- Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. CDT
- Informational flyer
- Register here
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024, from 1 to 2 p.m. CDT
- Register here
ORD posts upcoming events, webinars and training several months in advance, which EPA's research staff is participating in, hosting, or supporting in other ways.
Check out the EPA Research Events page often for updates.
ORD Publications, Products, Resources and Toolkits
Strategic Research Action Plans, Fiscal Years 2023-2026
ORD published the FY23-26 Strategic Research Action Plans (StRAPs) for these six National Research Programs (NRPs):
- Air, Climate, and Energy (ACE)
- Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS)
- Health and Environmental Risk Assessment (HERA)
- Homeland Security (HS)
- Safe and Sustainable Water Resources (SSWR)
- Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC)
As part of the StRAP development process, ORD identified six cross-cutting topics – environmental justice, climate change, cumulative impacts, community resilience, children’s environmental health, and contaminants of immediate and emerging concern – for close coordination throughout strategic research planning and implementation. Importantly, the plans also anticipate emerging issues.
Region 7 had 23 representatives (internal and external) working with ORD to incorporate our science priorities into the StRAP. This is the most involvement Region 7 ever had, and the Region hopes to continue that level of involvement in future StRAPs to address our science needs.
- Updates to Regional Environmental Health Data Visualization Application (REHD) Tool
- EPA Tribal Research Resources
- EPA Science Inventory for Publications
- EPA Science Models and Research Tools (SMART)
- EPA Science Matters Newsletter
- EPA Resources to Support States
- EPA Participatory Science for Environmental Protection
Story Map
![Image of Region 7 states on story map banner image](/sites/default/files/styles/small_high_quality/public/2023-10/rsp-story-map-box-image2.png?itok=zqo2F21T)
Region 7 Science Program’s Research Projects
In this story map, you can learn about the Region’s collaborative research projects that address environmental and health concerns. Extensive details and interactive maps about the 40-plus projects are in six categories: Water, Air, Cleanup and Remediation, Tool/Method Development, Contaminants of Concern, and SBIR/P3/STAR.