Overview: Marquette University (MU) operates an 8000 square foot office, meeting, and laboratory facility in the Global Water Center (GWC). The GWC is an education, research, and business accelerator in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood, operated by The Water Council, and dedicated to addressing key local and global water issues. Use of the MU facility is coordinated by the MU Office of Research and Innovation. Other GWC space houses water professionals from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Badger Meter, A. O. Smith, Veolia Water North America, Rexnord, Sloan Valve, The Water Council and others. The vision for the Marquette GWC facility (MUGWCF) is that it will be a recognized hub for innovative groups pursuing collaborative projects that advance clean water technology, policy, business, and public awareness. The goal of the MUGWCF is to enable our faculty, staff, and students to interact with other tenants and visitors; develop and collaborate on new large-scale research projects; and more effectively contribute the broad range of Marquette expertise to the work of the GWC and Water Council.

Seeking up to One-Year Project Proposals: Marquette University is seeking MUGWC proposals from faculty members on a rolling basis (proposed project duration of one semester to one year). Students may also participate, but proposals must be submitted by a faculty advisor. Projects may be renewed for subsequent semesters/years, with consideration for renewal based on submission of new project proposals.

Other Mechanisms for Short-Duration Projects: MUGWC usage can also be for short duration projects of less than one semester. For short-term usage, faculty members are encouraged to contact the Marquette University Office of Research and Innovation to talk about reserving space. Short-duration usage includes meetings, seminars, or classes for a few hours to a few days; exhibits of art, research posters, or video displays regarding water-related issues; and use of touchdown office space for short projects. These are just examples, some of which could also be extended to be long-term projects. Proposers are strongly encouraged to develop other creative projects for consideration.

Project Areas: Short descriptions of a few projects awarded in previous years are presented here. These descriptions serve to demonstrate the types of projects that could be considered; however, proposers are encouraged to suggest other ways the facility can be used.   

Marquette seeks proposals that develop or advance the following: 
(1) collaboration with existing GWC tenants and other partners outside Marquette University

(2) collaboration among various Marquette University departments/offices

(3) water technology

(4) fundamental water science/engineering concepts

(5) water policy

(6) water/environmental/business ethics

(7) communication/public appreciation/education/understanding of fresh water

(8) preliminary research to propose subsequent, large-scale projects for extramural funding

(9) business planning and operation related to water technologies or concepts

(10) water and health

Resources available: Proposals should request space (office and/or lab) in the MUGWCF. The project start date and end date should be listed and should be up to one year in length.  The MUGWCF space includes a meeting/classroom area for up to 30 people, a lobby/display space (floor space of 500 ft2), faculty/professional office space (seven desks), graduate/undergraduate office space (12 desks) and laboratory/testing space (5000 ft2) with shared utilities and equipment.

Process: Proposers should submit a project executive summary, a project narrative no more than three pages, a proposal space utilization request with justification (template provided), and a Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume of no more than 2 pages for each member of the proposing group.

Proposers are encouraged to communicate with other GWC tenants and water groups to formulate their ideas. Collaborative proposals with Marquette University and businesses, water-related utilities, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and other non-profits are encouraged. Proposals will be reviewed by the Vice President of Research and Innovation.

Qualification Criteria: Qualifying proposals must meet the following criteria:

• Field of Study – activities to advance clean water technology, water and health issues, policy, business, communication and public awareness
• Proposers – projects directed or significantly supported by Marquette University faculty. Proposals from proposers external to Marquette University must include a Marquette faculty member on the project team. Students may apply, but proposals must be submitted by a faculty member who will be actively involved in the project with the students
• Project duration –The project duration shall be for a minimum of one semester to a maximum of one calendar year, with clear deliverables stated. Multiple-year project durations are possible for certain projects, but are not guaranteed, and consideration for renewal will be based on submittal of annual project proposals. Deliverables and milestones should be specified for each year. Shorter duration projects should not be proposed under this solicitation; faculty members interested in shorter term space usage should contact the Marquette University Office of Research and Innovation.
• Use of Resources – Resources available include meeting/classroom area for up to 30 people, a lobby/display space (500 ft2), faculty/professional office space (five desks), graduate/undergraduate office space (12 desks) and laboratory/testing space (5000 ft2) with shared utilities and equipment.

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals having a high probability of success will be novel; involve collaboration among GWC tenants and/or departments/offices at Marquette; have a well-defined approach and methodology; will be appropriate for the GWC space; contain clear goals and deliverables; and have a high probability of advancing clean water technology, policy, communication, business, and/or public awareness. Projects that involve preliminary research to support subsequent, large-scale proposals for extramural funding are encouraged.

Application Process: Email the completed proposal application in a single PDF file to Dr. Jeanne Hossenlopp, care of Melody Baker (melody.baker@marquette.edu).

 

Find out more about what's happening at Marquette's Global Water Center space.