PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (January 19, 2022) – The first day of classes for students at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) proved to be a monumental day for the university. Along with welcoming returning students for the spring 2022 semester, Prairie View A&M and Shell Global Solutions (Shell) signed a $6 million partnership.
The PVAMU-Shell Nature Based Solutions (NBS) Research Program is a $5 million research program that is part of Shell’s technology innovation and funded through the company’s Projects & Technology organization. The five-year research agreement focuses on innovation and agriculture. The project will be headquartered in PVAMU’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences.
“To build an energy future that is cleaner, more sustainable, and more just, it will take hard work as well as insights from diverse perspectives – and we see communities like Prairie View as essential to the success of that formula,” shared Gretchen Watkins, president of Shell Oil Company. “The Shell-PVAMU NBS] is going to be the world’s or one of the world’s preeminent soil research projects when we get this underway.”
The Shell-PVAMU NBS partnership is aimed at effective carbon dioxide utilization and carbon capture by employing innovative renewable energy and environmental sustainability methods.
“The opportunity to be able to join forces and to take action that acknowledges the progress we’re making—in terms of giving opportunities to our students, couldn’t be better in my estimation,” said Ruth J. Simmons, president of PVAMU. “Its comprehensive approach-involving infrastructure, research collaboration, internships, and ongoing staff involvement-is especially welcome. I’m grateful for President Gretchen Watkins’ personal interest in and commitment to this collaboration.”
According to Shell, their projects protect, transform or restore land. Additional benefits include “offering alternative sources of income to local communities, improving soil productivity, cleaning air and water, and maintaining biodiversity.”
“[Tuesday’s] agreement is the first significant partnership for PVAMU under its new Carnegie Classification of Institution of Higher Learning designation: Doctoral/High Research campus, previously categorized as an R2 or Research 2 institution,” said Magesh Rajan, vice president of PVAMU Research & Innovation. “The Shell-PVAMU joint research endeavor speaks to the quality of the research undertakings by our faculty researchers, the quality of our researcher centers, and the commitment by the Division of Research & Innovation to cultivate strategic relationships with industry leaders like Shell.”
For Shell Oil Company, investing in a Historically Black University like Prairie View A&M, with agriculture and farming being part of its founding as a land-grant institution, and having the NBS headquartered at PVAMU—with its 700 acres of land dedicated to farm research land—is a winning combination for students and Shell’s future.
“This partnership illustrates how crucial cross-collaboration is among universities and corporations. Cross-sector R&D collaboration drives faster ideation and innovation by integrating knowledge and resources from non-traditional partners in academia, government, and other research institutions to address the world’s key technology challenges,” explained Selda Gunsel, president of Shell Global Solutions US. “The research agreement in particular will – among other things – build a state-of-the-art greenhouse on the campus research farm while leveraging Shell staff and expertise on joint research projects to help train the next generation of scientists.”
Shell has committed an additional $1 million to PVAMU for university infrastructure improvements and to provide work experience opportunities and retention programs. In addition to further developing students into the next generation of scientists, the new partnership will create a more diverse technical talent pipeline for Shell. The Shell-PVAMU partnership includes significant involvement with Shell staff, who will devote their time and expertise and collaborate on research projects.
You can view the signing here or below.
By Michael Douglas
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