National Science Foundation Planning Grant to Explore Public Awareness, Acceptance of Sustainable Sanitation Solutions
October 4, 2023—Awardees TERC and UNCSA to assemble interdisciplinary teams to collect feedback on human waste management
Fresh water flush toilets that rely on sewage treatment plants or septic systems are the norm in the U.S. Yet challenges posed by aging infrastructure, climate change and resource availability mean the U.S. may need to rethink the systems that allow people to flush and forget.
Leaders at TERC, a STEM education research and development non-profit, along with faculty from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and Pepperdine University, will collaborate on a planning grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF- 2427679 ) Responsible Design, Development and Deployment of Technologies (NSF ReDDDoT) program to explore preferences, patterns, and priorities related to the public acceptance of sustainable systems for human waste management.
Nickolay Hristov, Senior Scientist at TERC and UNCSA Professor Betsy Towns have assembled an interdisciplinary team including city officials, community organizers, scientists, environmental experts, educators and communication designers to expand understanding of the challenges and opportunities around waste and wastewater treatment.
Collectively, experts in sustainability, design, public service, communication, business and STEM education will add to the scant research on the public’s acceptance of sustainable sanitation solutions.
Martha Merson, a science communicator at TERC, said,
“We seek to identify measures that will increase trust and understanding among scientists and the public, foster engagement versus repulsion with regard to the topic of human waste disposal, and understand concerns about alternative waste technology.”
Towns pointed out that, “We can learn from the rural population and recreational river users in North Carolina, who have had to make do with suboptimal sanitation solutions, as well as from city officials in Winston Salem who work to sustain and improve traditional systems.”
Sustainable marketing expert and participating researcher Jolie Gutentag of Pepperdine University will consult on methods. Gutentag notes, “The goal is to be inclusive of many perspectives early stages in the design process.”
This sentiment is echoed by Tatiana Schreiber, Social Research Director at Rich Earth Institute and project advisor, who has found conversations with scientists, regulators, and the public key to understanding needs, ideas, and recommendations. Such conversations have helped their organization implement urine capture for fertilizer on nearby farms.
“Our objective is to pinpoint the values and preferences of diverse North Carolina residents and engage various members of the community in designing innovative approaches,” Gutentag said.
The research team will document its approach to introducing alternative technological solutions to prospective users.
To learn more, please email contactus@terc.edu
About NSF Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT)
The NSF ReDDDoT program is a collaboration with philanthropic partners and crosses all disciplines of science and engineering. The program seeks to ensure ethical, legal, community, and societal considerations are embedded in the lifecycle of technology’s creation and use. The program supports research, implementation and education projects involving multi-sector teams that focus on the responsible design, development or deployment of technologies. Learn more about ReDDDoT.
About TERC
TERC is a Cambridge, MA based nonprofit made up of teams of forward-thinking STEM experts dedicated to innovation and creative problem solving. TERC believes great futures are built through math and science.
For more than 55 years, TERC has taken a learner-centered approach to education in both formal and informal settings. At the frontier of theory and practice, TERC’s work encompasses research, content and curriculum development, technology innovation, professional development, and program evaluation. Through TERC’s curricula and programs, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to ask questions, solve problems, and expand their opportunities. TERC’s professional development helps teachers and facilitators utilize new tools, materials, and inquiry-based strategies to enrich the learners’ experience.
With a passion for and commitment to social justice, TERC strives to create level playing fields for all learners, reaching millions of students each year. TERC imagines a future where teachers and students are members of vibrant communities engaged in creative, rigorous, and reflective inquiry.