Celebrating P3’s 20th Year and the Return of the In-person National Student Design Expo
Published September 6, 2023
Tapping into the ingenuity of the next generation of scientists and engineers can deliver fresh, innovative solutions for the toughest sustainability challenges in areas such as agriculture, materials and chemicals, energy, information technology, water, and the built environment. EPA’s People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Program is a national competition that gives students the chance to turn their creative design and engineering ideas into a reality.
P3 provides teams of college and university students the opportunity to apply their classroom STEM-based learning to create real-world innovative projects with the aim of improving quality of life, promoting economic prosperity, and protecting the planet. Students can also gain valuable experience presenting their award-winning projects at the annual National Student Design Expo (NSDE). Students not only showcase their hard work with posters and presentations on their projects, but also network with experts from EPA, other government agencies, and tech- and science-focused companies. The Expo provides students the chance to discuss their research with entrepreneurs and gain insight into the commercialization potential of their technologies and projects, allowing them to explore opportunities to continue their work beyond their P3 grant.
The 2023 NSDE marks both the first in-person P3 Expo since 2019 and the 20th year of the P3 Program.
This year’s NSDE took place at TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Eighteen student teams, joined by two Patrick Hurd Sustainability winners (high school innovators tackling environmental challenges), attended the one-day event. In the exhibit hall, the students presented their projects focused on the most pressing sustainability topics, from detecting PFAS and microplastics in water to using low-cost air sensors to detecting hazardous pollutants, with many of these projects benefitting underserved communities who may be disproportionately affected by environmental stressors. Learn more about the teams, their projects, and view their posters on the 2023 NSDE webpage.
Since its 2004 inception, the P3 Program has awarded more than $18M to 830 projects, challenging students across all 50 states to design innovative projects that move our planet towards a sustainable future. With P3 funding, some past teams have launched non-profits and founded start-up companies, resulting in real-world application and commercialization of these student-led design solutions. This year, the program shifted from a two-phase program to a single-phase program, streamlining the process. Awarded P3 student teams now receive up to $75,000 and have two years to take their innovative and environmental sustainability project ideas to the implementation phase and showcase their design at the NSDE.
Under the new program design, the NSDE will occur in the second year, allowing teams more time to bring their projects to fruition. The Program continues to facilitate innovative solutions for a sustainable future, allowing students to work in a multidisciplinary setting and make collaborative decisions. The experience the teams gain through the networking and presentations can further develop business connections, practice project pitches, and strengthen their professional skills. Through the P3 Program, these future innovators can join the workforce with a full awareness of their impact on the environment, economy, and society.
Excited to learn more about the P3 Program? Explore the links below.