OK NSF EPSCoR
Research Projects
Resilience in Oklahoma
NSF # OIA- 1946093
PI: Kevin Wagner
2020-2026
With support from the National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research program and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, S³OK built a strong scientific foundation for tackling Oklahoma’s most urgent challenges. The project brought together more than 300 researchers at seven research institutions with communities, industry partners, and policymakers to co-develop practical, sustainable and science-based solutions for complex (wicked) problems at the intersection of land use, water availability and infrastructure in Oklahoma.
Impact and Reach
Together, the team produced:
- Over 179 peer-reviewed journal publications (cited more than 3,000 times)
- More than 369 presentations to audiences across Oklahoma and the United States
- To date, this team has supported 11 graduate students, reflecting a sustained commitment to developing scholars equipped to address complex socio-ecological challenges.
An Interdisciplinary Approach
To address these complex, interconnected “wicked problems” facing Oklahoma S³OK combined expertise from atmospheric science, hydrology, ecology, engineering, and social science, focusing on four key areas:
- Subseasonal to Seasonal Weather Patterns (S2S) – improving understanding and prediction of weather over weeks to months.
- Terrestrial Water and Carbon Dynamics (TWCD) – studying how water and carbon move and interact across landscapes.
- Variable and Marginal Quality Water Supplies (V MQW) – addressing challenges related to water availability and quality.
- Sustainable Water and Energy Infrastructure (SI) – developing resilient systems to support water, transportation and energy needs
These efforts were supported by a Social Dynamics (SD) framework, ensuring that human behavior, community priorities and societal impacts were part of the research.
Meet the Team
Oklahoma U.S. National Science Foundation EPSCoR Research Projects: 2005-2018
Since the program’s inception in 1985, Oklahoma U.S. National Science Foundation EPSCoR research has addressed some of the Nation’s most critical technological, ecological, and energy needs, including nanotechnology, plant virus biodiversity and ecology, cellulosic bioenergy, climate variability, and others. Learn about the most recently completed research projects below.
Climate Variability Research
Through the Research Infrastructure Improvement Award 'Adapting Socio-Ecological Systems to Increased Climate Variability,' Oklahoma scientists across the state came together to advance understanding of how socio-ecological systems can adapt sustainably to climate variability.
Building Oklahoma's Leadership Role in Cellulosic Bioenergy
Oklahoma scientists and engineers worked together to develop unique methods to transform non-crop native grasses, such as switchgrass, into liquid fuel through NSF RII Award No. EPS-0814361. Team members also investigated new, innovative technologies to convert lignocellulosic biomass to gasoline and diesel fuel.
Plant Virus Biodiversity & Ecology and Nanoscale Science & Engineering
Continuing its long-term strategy, which builds upon the state's existing strengths, Oklahoma U.S. National Science Foundation EPSCoR invested in the emerging fields of plant virus biodiversity & ecology and nanoscale science & engineering, working to bring both to nationally competitive levels.