Active / Published Environment & Energy Projects

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To promote the advancement of green chemistry and sustainable design principles through the creation of a venue for the discussion and dissemination of information among students and faculty from diverse fields such as chemistry, engineering, toxicology, public health, public policy, business, and environmental science. Learn more

Promote Transparency and Lower Barriers to Eating Locally Our solution should promote transparency by clearly linking all of the participants involved in a specific food sale, including producers, retailers, and distributors. It should lower barriers that consumers’ face by helping them eat seasonally, connect to and communicate with producers whose practices reflect their values, and find retailers who source locally. Encourage New and Struggling Farmers Our solution should provide tools to help producers share resources and exchange advice and ideas, with an emphasis on encouraging new producers to participate and seek help. It should also create clear channels of communication between producers, consumers, and retailers. This would allow producers to let others know of the struggles they face and to exchange information more easily with retailers to whom they sell. It would also encourage consumers to express their appreciation for the work put into their food, feedback that farmers both want and deserve. Encourage Political Awareness Our solution should promote discussion among all of the participants in the food system, allowing people to be more informed and aware of political barriers and their respective solutions. It should leverage both strong and weak ties and personal connections to help people become properly informed, organize around issues, and mobilize to take action. Foster Delight Our solution should emphasize the pleasure of personal connection and foster interactions that delight. It should allow people to explore the story behind their food in a fun, engaging way. As design strategist Patrick W. Jordan emphasizes, people want “products that offer something extra; products that are not merely tools but 'living objects' that people can relate to; products that bring not only functional benefits but also emotional ones.” (2002, p. 6) Our solution should motivate people to participate and to support each other by bringing this emotional benefit to the surface. Learn more

As part of our pilot program, we are installing a solar charging system for night-time lighting at an orphanage near Iquitos, Peru in August 2009. We will supplement the project with lessons on solar energy, including solar ovens and teaching the older students to build their own solar-powered radios. In addition, we will teach students the basics of disease transmission and hygiene by showing them their environment under a microscope and using various interactive games to show how disease can spread. Our goal is to demonstrate the benefits of science to an undereducated at-risk population. More information can be found at the Future Scientist Projects page. Learn more

Our goal is to transform over 200 tons a year of coffee ground waste from our urban environment and transform it into a 'green-collar' job creator and nutritious food to be provided back to our local community. Learn more