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The 蘑菇tv Provost鈥檚 Fund for Innovation in Research has invested $1.8 million in seed funding for interdisciplinary research and creative works to improve lives in Louisiana and around the world. This is the third year of Provost鈥檚 Fund investment, an internal grant program that supports the university鈥檚 fierce commitment to Scholarship First, drive 蘑菇tv鈥檚 national prominence as a top research university, and increase the competitiveness of 蘑菇tv scholars in their pursuit of federal and extramural funding.

鈥淭hese newly funded projects exemplify the breadth and depth of innovation at 蘑菇tv, spanning critical advancements in STEM and transformative contributions in the arts and humanities,鈥� 蘑菇tv Executive Vice President & Provost Roy Haggerty said. 鈥淏y seeding these diverse initiatives with the intention that they go on to receive federal support or extramural recognition, we are advancing 蘑菇tv鈥檚 groundbreaking research and creative endeavors that address societal challenges and enrich human understanding.鈥�

This year鈥檚 Big Idea grant program, part of the Provost鈥檚 Fund, supports research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, as well as in social and behavioral sciences and the arts and humanities. It also supports scholarly conferences, symposia, and seminars at 蘑菇tv, with additional funds going toward conference travel and research equipment.

In total, the funded projects will engage more than 70 faculty across 10 colleges and schools on 蘑菇tv鈥檚 flagship campus in Baton Rouge, extending collaboration to 蘑菇tv Libraries, Center for Energy Studies, Center for Computation & Technology, 蘑菇tv AgCenter, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and 蘑菇tv Health New Orleans.

Examples of the funded projects include:

• Improved building and energy systems that can moderate the impact of extreme heat on local communities and vulnerable populations.
• Development of a new treatment for traumatic brain injury.
• An effort to establish a microalgae industry in Louisiana by converting abandoned rice fields鈥攍ost to saltwater intrusion鈥攊nto microalgae cultivation ponds. Microalgae absorb carbon dioxide from the air and can be used as biomass for energy production and to create medicines.
• A new book on how empathy can both perpetuate and mitigate conflict by producing either contempt or affinity, and by distorting as well as enabling knowledge of oneself and the world.
• The organization of a SciArt Play Festival at 蘑菇tv in April 2025, showcasing some of the nation鈥檚 best plays on scientific topics, such as genetic engineering, AI, and virology.

For a full listing of project supported through the 蘑菇tv Provost鈥檚 Fund for Innovation in Research in 2025, please visit the 蘑菇tv Office of Research & Economic Development website: