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News Release 11-167
NSF Launches New Engineering Research Centers with Awards Totaling $74.0 Million
Four new centers will pursue innovations in large-scale solar energy, sustainable water systems, sensorimotor neural engineering and energy transmission networks
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![a University of Washington doctoral student interacting with a lifelike robotic hand.](/news/mmg/media/images/erc1_f1.jpg)
University of Washington doctoral student Eric Rombokas interacts with a lifelike robotic hand that includes the same number of muscles and tendons as the human hand, allowing the possibility for a more seamless integration with the human nervous system. The robotic hand was built in the UW's Neurobotics Lab, which works on the interface between robotics and the human body. The group will be involved in the new NSF Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering.
Credit: Yoky Matsuoka, University of Washington
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![a wetland testbed where ERC research will see how natural and engineered systems interact.](/news/mmg/media/images/erc2_f1.jpg)
Research at a wetland testbed in Discovery Bay, near San Francisco, Calif., will help achieve the ERC vision of how natural systems may work together with engineered systems to improve water quality, enhance ecosystems, and improve urban aesthetics.
Credit: David L. Sedlak, University of California, Berkeley, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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![photovoltaic technology produced of Arizona State University.](/news/mmg/media/images/erc3_f1.jpg)
The NSF-DOE QESST Engineering Research Center proposes to develop the technologies and manufacturing processes to dramatically increase the amount of solar photovoltaic energy supplying the nation's homes and businesses.
Credit: Arizona State University
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![two students with technology for improving the electricity transmission system.](/news/mmg/media/images/erc4_f1.jpg)
Students at the CURENT Engineering Research Center will be prepared for energy research and innovation as they pursue technologies to improve the nation's electricity transmission system.
Credit: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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