The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the national winners of the annual People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition, including one Pennsylvania award winner.

The Pennsylvania winner was from Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa, with a project title of A Novel Reactor Design for Efficient Production of Biodiesel from High Free-Fatty-Acid Oils. (Online video of Drexel students)

This national competition, sponsored by EPA's Office of Research and Development, encourages college students to create sustainable solutions to environmental problems through technological innovation. These sustainable solutions must be environmentally friendly, efficiently use natural resources and be economically competitive.

Each P3 award winner receives funding up to $75,000 to further develop their designs and implement them in the field or move them to the marketplace.

"EPA's National Sustainable Design Expo and People, Prosperity and the Planet competition provide a window into tomorrow," said Dr. George Gray, assistant administrator for the Office of Research and Development. "These innovative student teams not only show technologies for a greener future, but demonstrate the passion and innovative thinking that will lead us there."

The P3 Award competition was held at EPA's 4th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., April 20-22. The Expo showcases innovative, cutting-edge technologies designed by the P3 teams along with sustainable policies and technologies developed and implemented by government and state agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Support for the competition includes more than 40 partners in the federal government, industry and scientific and professional societies. This year's Expo was co-sponsored by The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education and The World Environment Center.

Video and photos of the P3 winners, exhibits and teams can be found at the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition webpage.

4/25/2008