The 24rd annual Steven D. Manners Research Development awards from the University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR) have been given to projects on Black Pittsburgh and advancing a circular economy at Pitt.

Since 2001, UCSUR has been granting Manners Awards to promising research projects in the social, behavioral and policy sciences on campus. These awards honor the memory of Steven Manners, a sociologist who began working at the UCSUR in 1974 and served as its assistant director from 1989 until his death in September 2000. His research was dedicated to improving social conditions in the urban environment.

The awards went to:

Kyaien Conner, director of Pitt’s Center on Race and Social Problems and a professor in the School of Social Work, whose project is “Black Pittsburgh Satisfaction and Retention Study.” The study will systematically study a representative sample of the Black Pittsburgh population to attain perspectives on why they left Pittsburgh or why they have chosen to stay in the region.

Melissa M. Bilec, co-director of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and professor of civil & environmental engineering; and Amy L. Brooks, postdoctoral associate, civil & environmental engineering, will focus on uncovering challenges and opportunities for advancing the University of Pittsburgh’s transition to the circular economy.

The awards, which are up to $20,000 each, are open to full-time faculty, post docs and research associates from all Pitt campuses.