UMD Global STEWARDS NSF NRT

To expand the educational efforts of CONSERVE, University of Maryland CONSERVE team members won a competitive $3 million graduate student training award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Research Traineeship program (NRT) to launch the UMD Global STEWARDS (STEM Training at the Nexus of Energy WAter Reuse and FooD Systems).

Our vision is for this program to become a national model for the preparation of lifelong learners, stellar science communicators and distinctive professionals ready to realize transdisciplinary food-energy-water (FEW) nexus solutions to sustain future generations.

Over the last 5-years (2018-2023), this program has trained at least sixty (60) PhD students from programs in the life sciences, earth system sciences, engineering and computational sciences, social behavioral sciences, natural resource management studies, public health, energy and environmental policy, and more. UMD Global STEWARDS graduates will emerge from the program with the communication and professional skills needed to translate research discoveries into actionable science at the FEW nexus.

This year (2024), a modified version of the graduate fellowship program will continue beyond the end of the NSF grant by being integrated into the new Global FEWture Alliance Institutional Grand Challenges Program. Additionally, we are excited to launch our UMD Global STEWARDS Undergraduate Program this year. Through this integration, the fellowship program will continue to prepare future leaders (graduate and undergraduate students) focused on innovations at the nexus of food, energy and water (FEW) systems.

Visit the UMD Global STEWARDS website to learn more.