UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A proposal that will support the development of a living laboratory for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) research, education and innovation at Penn State is among the latest initiatives to receive funding through the University’s Strategic Plan Seed Grant program.
The project, titled “Greening our stormwater: using campuses as living labs for green stormwater infrastructure,” supports the Penn State Strategic Plan theme of Stewarding our Planet’s Resources.
The research team is led by Hong Wu, assistant professor of landscape architecture, whose vision is to position Penn State as a national leader in GSI by building a campus community with the capacity to implement long-term cost-effective solutions to water quality and quantity.
Wu has assembled an interdisciplinary team of researchers for the project, including: Lauren McPhillips, assistant professor in the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Odette Mina, managing director of the Energy and Environmental Sustainability Laboratories; Daniel Brent, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education; Shirley Clark, professor of environmental engineering at Penn State Harrisburg; Andy Cole, associate professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and the director of the Ecology Plus Design (E+D) research initiative; Andrew Gutberlet, manager of engineering services with the Office of the Physical Plant (OPP); Tom Richard, director of the Institutes of Energy and the Environment and professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Meghan Hoskins, director of operations and partnerships with the Sustainability Institute; Jennifer Fetter, water resources extension educator; and Deborah Hoag, director of public works with the Borough of State College.
GSI is a network of systems that slows the rate of stormwater runoff and filters out harmful pollutants before they drain into waterways. Vegetation, soils and other processes that mimic nature — thus the “green” distinction — are used to treat and intercept stormwater at its source. Effective green infrastructure systems also look like gardens, frequently with colorful flowers. In all, this approach reduces localized flooding, improves water quality, enhances community aesthetics and encourages community stewardship.