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The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the Kentucky Science & Engineering Foundation (KSEF), an initiative of the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation (KSTC), $8M to improve Kentucky’s ability to predict, mitigate and respond to climate-related natural disasters by establishing statewide climate data infrastructure. Through E-CORE RII: Technology for Innovative Visualization, Aggregation & Training in Environmental Preparedness and Resilience for Kentucky (CAPTIVATE KY), KSEF and partners will equip the commonwealth with the data needed to save lives, reduce economic losses and create a more resilient future.

“Kentuckians have experienced the tragic impact of natural disasters far too many times in recent years, and I applaud KSTC and its partners for taking action that will help us save lives while strengthening our ability to predict and respond to extreme weather,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “This effort will also create new opportunities for workforce development and economic growth.”

CAPTIVATE KY will improve the state's ability to predict and mitigate the effects of climate-related natural disasters. KSEF will build a statewide climate data bank to make crucial information easily accessible to the public so they can make informed decisions and better prepare for emergencies. 

“We’re providing access to critical data that will empower communities to prepare for and respond to climate-related events,” said KSEF Executive Director Dr. Maria Labreveux. “Democratizing access to research data opens the door for innovators to turn data into unique solutions for disaster preparedness and response—including protection of utilities and natural resources—and will lead to new technologies and job creation in the state.”

The data bank will compile climate research from a network of university and industry research partners throughout the state, turning the data into a functional decision-making tool for researchers, entrepreneurs, educators and citizens. 

“This new initiative provides critical tools for climate resilience and creates valuable opportunities for Kentuckians to engage with STEM fields,” said KSTC President Terry Samuel. “CAPTIVATE KY brings together climate research happening throughout the state so we can more easily share and collaborate on the data, positioning Kentucky at the forefront of climate innovation.”

KSEF will work with partners Kentucky State University and AdvanceKentucky to identify education and workforce development opportunities that capitalize on the enhanced climate data. Kentucky State University announced a $7M NSF-funded project addressing climate-related food security and sustainability in June 2024. 

“This is a significant step forward in improving climate resilience in Kentucky. I am very proud of Kentucky State University’s ongoing efforts to lead for impact throughout the Commonwealth. I have no doubt that our professors, Dr. Chi Shen and Dr. Suraj Upadhaya, are well equipped to support the creation of this important statewide climate data cyberinfrastructure,” said Kentucky State University President Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo. 

AdvanceKentucky, another KSTC initiative that helps Kentucky school districts increase student enrollment and success in STEM classrooms, will collaborate on the development of a new curriculum for high school students. The new curriculum will include hands-on use of climate data and will merge data science, computer science and environmental science to build Kentucky’s workforce capacity to develop solutions for climate-related challenges. Training will be provided to teachers on how to use the databank and engage students in new STEM career paths.

"EPSCoR is a driving force in enabling STEM research for everyone, everywhere, ensuring broad access to innovation and opportunity," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "This cohort of E-CORE projects exemplifies the transformative power of investing in research infrastructure, and their contributions are poised to generate a lasting, sustainable impact on these jurisdictions' research ecosystems."

Funding for CAPTIVATE KY is awarded through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement Program (E-CORE RII). CAPTIVATE KY complements the $20M Kentucky NSF EPSCoR Climate Resilience through Multidisciplinary Big Data Learning, Prediction & Building Response Systems (CLIMBS) project that uses big data to increase climate knowledge, predict disasters and build disaster response systems. 

To learn more about CAPTIVATE KY, visit ksef.kstc.org.