2021 Sustainability Challenge

ISS National Lab Sustainability Challenge

What if the next great discovery to improve our planet came from research off the planet?

How can we reimagine the design, production, use, and recovery of plastics to eliminate polymer waste in the environment and reduce the consumption of water, energy, and petrochemical feedstocks?

The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), manager of the ISS National Lab, is holding a sustainability challenge in partnership with leading global prestige beauty brand Estée Lauder. The ISS National Lab Sustainability Challenge: Beyond Plastics aims to utilize the orbiting laboratory to advance sustainability research that addresses the plastics dilemma.

NLRA / NSF Solicitation #:

NLRA Open Period: Cycle 1:
10/28/2021 – 5/9/2022

Strategic Focus:
Fundamental Science

Research Area:

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ISS National Lab Sustainability Challenge logo

Purpose

The Sustainability Challenge is an open solicitation for U.S.-based entities to propose flight projects that leverage the space station to tackle plastics waste and enable scientific or technological advancements that improve Earth’s environment. Estée Lauder intends to provide funding to support one or more flight projects awarded through this Sustainability Challenge as part of the brand’s sustainability efforts to move to a more circular materials economy.

Sustainability Challenge Research Goals:

  • Reduce the introduction of plastic waste into the environment.
  • Seek alternative feedstocks and pathways for polymer production beyond petrochemicals.
  • Reduce virgin plastic manufacturing.

Sustainability Challenge Statement:

“Addressing the Plastics Dilemma: Design and Synthesis of Sustainable Polymers Aided by Access to Space”

Steps to Applying for This Research Opportunity

The Sustainability Challenge is an open solicitation for U.S.-based entities to propose flight projects that leverage the space station to tackle plastics waste and enable scientific or technological advancements that improve Earth’s environment.

Finalists of this Sustainability Challenge may have the opportunity to launch flight projects to the orbiting laboratory under the sponsorship of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory.

Details are available on the webpage.

Thank you for your interest in conducting research through the ISS National Lab! For questions regarding this research announcement, please contact info@ISSNationalLab.org and reference the Sustainability Challenge in the subject line.