Sponsored Programs Showcase Celebrates Innovative Research

From restoring salmon habitat to advocating for access and equity in graduate programs, Chico State professors are at the forefront of positive change across the state. 

The community is invited to discover more about the University’s groundbreaking, grant-funded research projects at the Sponsored Programs Showcase on Monday, April 15, from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium on the Chico State campus.  

Presented by University auxiliary Chico State Enterprises, the showcase celebrates the extraordinary work of approximately 54 project directors, which include faculty members, staff program directors and dedicated community partners. Together, they are spearheading pioneering work in a variety of disciplines and fields.  

Here are just a few examples of the research that will be featured at the showcase: 

• North Valley Food Hub for Climate-Smart Agriculture: Through a $5 million grant, the project will integrate farm-to-fork practices for growers using climate-smart agricultural techniques. It will create a single platform for wholesale buyers and a marketplace for growers to showcase and sell their products. 
• NorCal GREAT Teachers Pipeline: A three-year, $13.4 million grant awarded to the School of Education covers tuition costs for aspiring educators. One of the goals of the grant is to increase access to higher education for students in the North State region who face barriers that can slow their progress toward a degree. 
• Broadening Accessibility & Training to Emerging Researchers for Innovative Energy Storage (BATTERIES): With a three-year, $2.25 million grant from the US Department of Energy, Chico State faculty are working with collaborators at San Jose State and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to maximize the storage capacity of low-cost batteries. A key goal of the project is to develop novel materials to enhance lithium-sulfur batteries to meet both US energy storage demands and the urgent national need to achieve a carbon pollution-free electricity grid by 2035.  
• Salmonid Habitat Restoration Partnership: Restoring Habitat on the Upper Sacramento River: The Kapusta Open Space Side Channel Project is the first of five restoration projects to be completed under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act. Since 2016, $27 million has been entrusted to the University to invest in salmonid habitat restoration. 

“It is exciting and a privilege to host this inaugural event to showcase some of the many outstanding projects underway at Chico State,” said CSE Chief Executive Officer Mary Sidney. “This past year, public and private sponsors awarded $61 million to support the University’s research, innovative programs and community partnerships. The showcase celebrates this important work and provides a wonderful opportunity to learn first-hand about the projects from team members themselves in an informal, interactive setting.”   

This free event is open to all community members, students, faculty, and staff. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided. 

Those who require accommodations or who have questions about accessibility may contact the Accessibility Resource Center at 530-898-5959.

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About Chico State Enterprises 

Chico State Enterprises, formerly known as the CSU, Chico Research Foundation, provides business services to support innovative research programs, community partnerships, entrepreneurial projects, and other education-related activities funded by public and private grants or contracts. A 501c3 non-profit auxiliary corporation, CSE operates on behalf of the University to advance its educational mission and vision. 

About Chico State 

At Chico State, we empower students to Do and Dare in their careers and lives. Founded in 1887, Chico State is the second-oldest institution in the 23-campus CSU, the nation’s largest public university system. Chico State enrolls approximately 14,000 students and serves as the comprehensive university of the North State, the 12-county region where the campus is located. A 20-time US News & World Report “Top Public School in the West,” Chico State prides itself on its high-quality, high-value education, an active and engaged student body, and strong connection with the local community and state of California. Recognized for its focus on sustainability and community involvement, students expand their possibilities through more than 380 academic offerings and co-curricular programs and work closely with expert faculty to devise solutions for the unprecedented global challenges of the 21st century.