Celebrating Innovation and Impact: Community Engagement, Research and Impact Grant Awardees Announced
The Purdue University Office of Engagement continues to advance initiatives that empower faculty, staff and community partners through professional development programs. One of its newest efforts is the inaugural Community Engagement, Research and Impact Grant, a funding initiative that supports interdisciplinary faculty teams collaborating with communities to advance research, education and engagement outcomes. This grant reflects the university’s land-grant mission and commitment to reciprocal partnerships and measurable community impact.
This year’s two awardees exemplify the power of collaboration, creativity and public impact.
Co-Designing Nature Through Virtual Reality
Full project title:
Co-Design of Natural Environment VR Experience in Partnership with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Principal investigators:
Anastasia Kouvaras Ostrowski,
assistant professor in the School of Applied and Creative Computing, Polytechnic Institute
Cauê Borlina,
Gerald H. and Sharon D. Krockover New Frontiers assistant professor in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, College of Science
Project description:
This project brings together experts in computing, design and earth sciences to create a multi-user VR cave experience that expands access to Indiana’s natural resources. In partnership with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the team will explore how immersive technology can support informal learning, foster community engagement and enhance outreach at public events such as fairs.
Research areas:
Earth sciences, environmental sciences, collaborative design, human-computer interaction, informal learning, virtual reality
Expanding Hearing Health in Rural Indiana
Full project title:
Expanding Rural Hearing Health through Community Collaboration
Principal investigators:
Joshua Alexander,
associate professor of speech, language and hearing sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences
Jennifer Coddington,
clinical professor and medical director in the School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Sciences
Co-investigators:
Michael G. Heinz,
professor and interim department head of speech, language and hearing sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences; professor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering
Alexandra Hustedt-Mai,
research audiologist in speech, language and hearing sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences
Project description:
Building on a successful collaboration with the Delphi clinic, this project expands hearing health interventions into underserved rural communities using the CASCADE framework. Through community panels, Extension educators and mobile audiology services, the team will co-develop and test practical, research-informed strategies to improve early detection, education and behavioral health outcomes.
Research areas:
Audiology, nursing, psychology, community-based participatory research, implementation science
About the Grant
The Community Engagement, Research and Impact Grant provides funding of $20,000 to $30,000 per award to support interdisciplinary faculty partnerships with community organizations. Open to Purdue faculty from any discipline at the West Lafayette or Indianapolis campuses, the grant encourages teams of at least two faculty from different fields to collaborate with a designated community and research partner.
Funded projects must submit a project logic model, participate in the Engagement Fellows Community of Practice, produce at least two scholarly products and present outcomes at the 2026 Community Impact Summit. The grant period runs from September 2025 through September 2026.
Learn more about the Community Engagement, Research and Impact Grant.