The University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) works to enhance research capacity focused on the major environmental health impacts (e.g., air water, pesticides) that have been implicated in chronic diseases such as heart and lung disease, cancer, diabetes, and child health and early life exposures.
UK-CARES supports residents and organizations in Southeastern Kentucky communities to engage in citizen science by exploring how nature, particularly air and water, affect health, and to collaborate with UK scientists to take part in studies related to the prevention and treatment of environmentally-induced diseases.
UK-CARES is requesting applications from community partner organizations for funding ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to support community-based environmental research projects. Up to five applications will be funded in 2019. Projects must be conducted in collaboration with at least one UK faculty member and must be implemented and completed between June 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020. Requests for funds may not exceed $10,000.
Award priorities are consistent with the mission of UK-CARES to contribute to the science of the prevention and treatment of environmentally-induced diseases in the Big Sandy, Kentucky River, and Cumberland Valley Area Development Districts.
Priority areas considered for funding include community-academic research projects that address:
- Access to the safe and quality river ways
- Air quality (e.g., fine particulates, quarry dust)
- Hazard and disaster planning
- Environmental indicators and impacts on heart and lung disease, cancer, diabetes, child health and early life exposures, and substance abuse
- Exposure to metals (soil, water)
- Radon exposure
- Environmental risk communication and health literacy
- Water quality (i.e., surface and/or tap testing)
- Youth engagement in citizen science
Key Dates:
Applications due: May 20, 2019
Applicants Notified: June 3, 2019
Project Implementation Period: July 1, 2019
Contact:
Thomas Curry, Ph.D.,
Director
tecurry@uky.edu
Joel Thompson, Ph.D.,
Research Development Director
joel.thompson@uky.edu