The LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio, a trans-disciplinary program of the College of Art & Design, School of the Coast & Environment, and College of Engineering, in collaboration with the Office of Research & Economic Development, was awarded a $50,000, 10-month planning grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation.

The grant will support planning for a new trans-disciplinary undergraduate research curriculum increasing student competencies to conduct and apply research to solve Louisiana’s critical coastal challenges.

Over the next 10 months, a team of researchers will work with faculty and staff to develop the curriculum, develop the minor’s administrative framework, establish internships with firms throughout the Gulf South and secure a work space to become a dedicated Delta Research Studio. CSS will then apply for an additional W. M. Keck Foundation grant to implement the plan developed.

“The program will offer a combination of training that is unique and valuable. It will also support a wide range of undergraduate research projects through on- and off-campus research-for-credit and professional internships,” said Jeff Carney, director of CSS. “This kind of interaction will have a powerful impact on the state’s future coastal workforce. Bridging research and practice through collaborative, project-based learning has the potential to be transformative for LSU and for the future of coastal research and practice.”

The funded program was conceived, constructed, and aligned with the outcomes of LSU Discover, LSU’s comprehensive Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP.

About the W. M. Keck Foundation
Based in Los Angeles, the W. M. Keck Foundation was established in 1954 by the late W. M. Keck, founder of the Superior Oil Company.  The Foundation’s grant making is focused primarily on pioneering efforts in the areas of medical research, science and engineering, and undergraduate education.  The Foundation also maintains a Southern California Grant Program that provides support for the Los Angeles community, with a special emphasis on children and youth.

For more information about the research in this release, contact Ashley Arceneaux at aberth4@lsu.edu or 225-578-3870.