{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bennie-g-thompson-announces-over-12-million-national-science", "Congressman Bennie G. Thompson Announces Over $1.2 Million in National Science Foundation Research Awards to Jackson State University", "2025-06-13", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "MS", "Bennie G. Thompson", "T000193", "benniethompson.house.gov", "benniethompson", "https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "June 13, 2025\n\nBOLTON, MS \u2013 Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded more than $1.2 million in research funding to Jackson State University (JSU) to support two groundbreaking projects that advance scientific innovation while strengthening STEM education and workforce development in Mississippi.\n\nThe NSF awards are as follows:\n\n$500,090.00 for the project entitled \u201cExcellence in Research: Self-Healing Infrastructure with Natural-Based Enhancements (SHINE): Innovative Solutions Development for Resilient Earthen Infrastructure,\u201d under the direction of Dr. Kejun Wen.\n\nAward Start Date: September 1, 2025\n\nThis project will focus on improving the durability and resilience of earthen infrastructure through sustainable, nature-based engineering solutions. The SHINE project will integrate cutting-edge research with STEM education by training undergraduate and graduate students, and fostering partnerships with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, community colleges, and K-12 educators.\n\n$699,948.00 for the project entitled \u201cExcellence in Research: Phytoremediation Using Vetiver Grass to Address Heavy Metals and PFAS in Contaminated Soil and Wastewater,\u201d under the direction of Dr. Sadik Khan.\n\nAward Start Date: June 1, 2025\n\nThis research will evaluate and optimize the use of Vetiver grass in phytoremediation applications to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals from contaminated soils, leachate, and wastewater.\n\nBoth projects are supported through the NSF\u2019s Excellence in Research (EiR) program, which aims to expand the capacity for scientific discovery and innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bennie-g-thompson-announces-over-12-million-national-science"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2433878146111965, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}