The Innovation Impact Case Award recognizes research that has led to significant impact outside of academia and has made a meaningful difference in our communities.
Award Winners
The award and prize of $10,000 went to each of the following research projects:
Richard Graves, College of Design, Center for Sustainable Building Research, for “Leading the Built Environment to Sustainability in Minnesota.”
In 2001, the team at the Center for Sustainable Building Research developed the Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines (B3), a pioneering program for state-funded buildings, that emphasizes measurable performance improvements. Continuous input from state agencies and industry stakeholders has allowed the program to be updated consistently and enables it to continue serving a model for localized green building initiatives—including the promotion of resilience, occupant well-being, and net-zero energy and carbon emissions. To date, it has influenced more than 600 buildings and 40 million square feet of projects, saving over $130 million in energy costs.
Read more: Leading the Built Environment to Sustainability in Minnesota
Rebecca Shlafer, Medical School, Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Health, for “Supporting the Health of Children and Families Impacted by Incarceration in Minnesota.”
Dr. Rebecca Shlafer’s body of research demonstrating the negative impacts of incarceration on the health and wellbeing of children and families has led to widespread changes aimed at improving support for incarcerated parents and their children. Her research with the Minnesota Prison Doula Project contributed to the expansion of perinatal support programs for pregnant and postpartum people in prisons across the country, with Minnesota serving as a model. Her work has also directly informed practice and policy changes both locally and nationally (e.g., Minnesota Model Jail Practices Learning Community, Minnesota Healthy Start Act, Oregon HB 2535) to support families impacted by incarceration.
Read more: Supporting the Health of Children and Families Impacted by Incarceration in Minnesota