Florida Congressional delegation delivers millions in support of FIU’s climate tech research

FIU is at the helm of groundbreaking research that harnesses the power of cutting-edge technologies to study and preserve the environment. FIU’s strength in this research area, dubbed “climate technologies,” is turning heads — and garnering supporters locally and nationally.

For a third historic year, members of the Florida Congressional delegation have successfully secured more than $34.5 million in increased funding for crucial agencies that support FIU research in strategic areas, particularly climate technologies. This includes nearly $8 million that the Florida Congressional delegation helped secure in the recently enacted federal omnibus spending bills for direct FIU earmarks — funding for community projects. It also includes more than $26.6 million that the delegation secured (at the university’s request) for critical agencies that support FIU research initiatives.

Thanks to the Florida Congressional delegation’s efforts, FIU leads among all universities in the state for securing congressional earmarks. This funding will be used to advance the university’s leadership in resilient infrastructure, environmental resilience and materials engineering.

“Once again, our Congressional delegation continues to deliver for FIU and to support our leadership in environmental resilience and technologies,” said Michelle L. Palacio, senior vice president of the Division of Strategic Communications, Government and External Affairs. “They believe in FIU. They know that our faculty and student researchers are finding innovative solutions to some of the most pressing problems affecting the globe. The Congressional delegation’s efforts play a crucial role in increasing our research activity with important agencies like the Department of Defense, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and others. We are very grateful for their support.”

These Congressional successes materialized weeks before FIU also secured $10M from the Department of Commerce to help lead infrastructure technologies for the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub.

The 2024 fiscal year’s federal earmarks will support the following programs:

FIU’s Wall of Wind (WoW) — U.S. Representative Mario Díaz-Balart secured a $4.05 million federal allocation from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support windstorm research. The research will be conducted through WoW’s Windstorm Research Instrumentation and Testing Enhancement project. WoW is dedicated to researching extreme weather and testing future climate scenarios through simulations.

“As a huge supporter of community resilience, I’m very proud to have secured $4.05 million to expand Category 5 hurricane-force storms and improve targeted research for critical testing and resilient infrastructure at FIU’s globally known Wall of Wind facility,” said Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart. “The research done at FIU is cutting-edge. The Wall of Wind has had a huge impact in the community, and I know this is just the beginning of bigger things that will positively affect how we live. I am so proud of working with FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell and the rest of the FIU family, and I look forward to continuing our great work to ensure research dollars continue keep coming to sunny South Florida."

The Center for Incubation, Acceleration and Manufacturing of Engineering and Technologies — U.S. Representative Carlos Gimenez secured $2M from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support the creation of the Center for Incubation, Acceleration and Manufacturing of Engineering and Technologies. The center, which will be part of the new engineering building, will bolster innovation and meet the workforce development needs of South Florida’s burgeoning advanced manufacturing industry.

Community-wide Biscayne Bay Restoration, Conservation and Education Program — U.S. Representative Frederica Wilson secured $963K from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support Biscayne Bay restoration efforts. Through this program, FIU researchers seek to adapt strategies and nature-based solutions for environmental resilience that protect mangrove forests in coastal communities and restore declining sea grass beds while incorporating green infrastructure.

Among various activities that will be supported by the funds is an interdisciplinary project that will enhance coastal ecosystem resilience through technology. FIU researchers from the Departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Biological Sciences and the FIU Institute of Environment are creating innovative, 3D printed concrete blocks. These seawalls, called Ecoblox, are engineered to enhance marine biodiversity and mitigate water pollution in coastal areas. 

Advanced Materials Engineering Research Institute (AMERI) — U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz secured $963K from NIST for AMERI. The funds will be used to equip the institute with state-of-the art instrumentation to significantly enhance the institute’s capabilities to research and provide high-tech solutions related to semiconductor materials and device fabrication.

“As our nation seeks to increase investments and domestic capacity for the semiconductor industry, I am honored to help FIU secure state-of-the art instrumentation which will to significantly enhance the university’s international collaboration on materials sciences and device fabrication research,“ said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, ranking member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations subcommittee.

Increased funding at critical research agencies
The Florida Congressional delegation also supported advancing key FIU appropriations increases requested by FIU. These increases are expected to provide FIU researchers with greater opportunities for agency collaboration and to allow for the continuation of existing projects. They include:

• $15 million dollar increase at the Army Research Lab for Coldspray Technologies
• $4 million dollar increase at SOUTHCOM for Enhanced Domain Awareness analysis activities
• $5 million dollar increase at USAID to advance Resilient Infrastructure in the Americas
• $2.15 million dollar increase at the EPA to support water quality testing activities in South Florida

Financial Aid Boost
Additionally, funds will support Pell grant recipients and allow them to receive a maximum discretionary Pell grant award of over $6,000 (combined with other mandatory funding, the maximum Pell award for FIU students will be more than $7,000 for the 2024-2025 award year).