The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to award up to $1.25 million in grants to teams of college students under the agency’s People, Prosperity and the Plant competition.

Applications are due by December 21.

EPA will award as many as 50 grants up to $10,000 each to student teams to research, develop and design scientific and technical solutions to sustainability challenges that protect the environment while achieving continued economic prosperity.

The money will be used to research and develop sustainable solutions during the 2007-08 academic year.

In spring 2008, the teams will be invited to bring their designs to Washington, D.C. to compete for EPA's P3 Award, which includes an additional award worth up to $75,000 to further develop and implement the project in the field.

The competition will be judged by the National Academy of Engineering for design innovation and technical merit along with relevant social, economic and environmental considerations that are the keys to sustainable designs.

The P3 competition is open to teams of students attending colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational institutions. Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged, including representatives from multiple engineering departments and/or departments of chemistry, architecture, industrial design, economics, policy, social sciences, business, communication, etc.

Several previous winners have already taken their innovations to new levels – including starting successful businesses, winning additional awards, and improving the quality of life in the United States, other developed countries plus those that are developing.

For application procedures and other background information, visit the People, Prosperity and the Plant competition webpage

8/18/2006