Submission Deadline: Wednesday, May 1, 2019
In 2014, eight residents of East Harlem lost their lives when two buildings were destroyed by a natural gas explosion and the resulting fire. People in the area recounted smelling gas in the days leading up to the incident, but no one had reported the gas odor until shortly before the explosion. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the incident and determined that natural gas from a compromised gas line connection in the street had leaked and migrated into one of the buildings where it ignited.
In support of Con Edison’s goal of increasing public awareness of gas safety and of the importance of reporting natural gas odors, the CUNY Office of K-16 Initiatives is requesting proposals for behavioral research projects that aim to better understand the factors that may or may not prompt community members to contact 911 or Con Edison when they detect a gas leak or gas odor.
Projects relevant to human behavioral responses to detecting and reporting natural gas odors will be considered. This research will be used to inform and enhance Con Edison’s public outreach, superintendent training curriculum, and other gas safety programs.
The grant funding is for one year (August 1, 2019 – July 31, 2020). We anticipate awarding 5-8 projects with funding levels of $25,000-$35,000 in 2019.
