The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $295,000 Project Grant under the Integrative Activities (IA) program (CFDA 47.083) to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, doing business as Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania. The funding supports a collaborative research project titled "Rooted in Nature: Bioinspired Design of Sustainable Seeding Methods to Improve Forest Regeneration." This interdisciplinary effort aims to develop novel, biodegradable self-burying seed carriers for aerial seeding to enhance germination rates and seedling establishment, thereby expanding forest restoration capabilities. The 5-year project (10/1/2024 - 9/30/2029) will (1) address low germination and seedling establishment in aerial seeding, (2) create a library of seed carrier designs for diverse tree species and environments, (3) optimize the self-burying process through modeling, and (4) establish ecological field test protocols to evaluate the impact on forest biodiversity. No sub-awards are planned for this grant.
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