Targeted Investments in Excellence
In 2005, The OSU Provost established the Targeted Investment in Excellence (TIE) program to encourage colleges and departments to move their teaching and research into the top 10 or 20 among their world peers as part of Ohio State's Academic Plan.
Ten proposals from a variety of disciplines were selected to share $100 million over the next five years. Of those ten proposals, four of the funded TIEs relate to energy and related environmental research. Furthermore, they represent over half of the TIE investment. IEE is working to establish appropriate links between these four TIEs and build upon the outstanding internal partnership fostered by this unique investment. For example, while the Center for Energy, Sustainability, and Environment is primarily working to develop new sources of energy, the Climate, Carbon and Water TIE can help ensure that new energy technologies do not have a negative impact on the environment.
 Center for Sustainable Energy The College of Engineering's Center for Clean, Sustainable Energy will expand efforts to address both the national and the global need for energy--now and throughout the next century. Center affiliates will engage in research on clean coal and nuclear power, fuel cells, and new technologies that will allow us to use renewable energy sources for some of our energy needs. Their parallel study of the impact of these technologies on society, the environment, and the economy will help inform energy policy and the development of codes and standards to regulate the new technologies. |
 Advanced Materials Institute (IMR) This collaboration of the Colleges of Engineering and Mathematical and Physical Sciences will support the creation of the Institute for Materials Research to coordinate existing and planned materials activities, facilities, and investment across the university. Because of the broad economic and entrepreneurial impact of materials research, and because such research is vital to so many business sectors within Ohio, the work of the Institute can be expected to have a direct impact on the state's economy. |
 Translational Plant Science The Colleges of Biological Sciences and Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences developed the Translational Plant Sciences Initiative to boost our expertise in the molecular plant sciences and to hasten the application of basic research in the plant sciences. As Ohio State researchers collaborate with such external partners as the Department of Energy National Laboratories, Battelle, and the Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center, Ohio's economic growth will be fueled by the enhanced applications in agriculture, medicine, pharmacy, and engineering that will result from the Translational Plant Sciences Program. |
 Climate, Carbon and Water The Climate, Carbon, and Water Program is a collborative project of faculty in the Colleges of Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; and Social and Behavioral Sciences; the Byrd Polar Research Center; and the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. The work of these experts will lead to scientific and policy responses to questions of global importance--for example, what is causing abrupt climate change, whether there will be sufficient quantities of fresh water worldwide, and how climate change and water resources will be impacted by fossil fuel combustion. |