State Geologist, Keith Schilling, is co-PI on a new 4-year project funded by the US National Science Foundation through its Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.  In collaboration with Profs Cramer and Meyer at UI and researchers at Kansas, the project aim to form a consortium that will focus on critical mineral, particularly rare earth elements, and groundwater resources for the renewable energy industry in both states. This project will produce data and resources that support private sector growth by providing the technical capacity and information required for sustainable growth and development of the renewable energy sector in both jurisdictions.