(UG1) Massachusetts Climate Resilience Policy, Planning, and the Needs of People with Disabilities: Paths to Improvement

Authors: Rafaello Adler-Abramo

Advisors: Crystal Brown, Stephen McCauley

Category: Undergraduate

Abstract:

People With Disabilities (PWDs) face a four-fold higher risk of death from climate emergencies, yet largely lack any meaningful inclusion in municipal climate vulnerability planning. This project maps out a strategy to increase PWD inclusion in a Massachusetts government agency, the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program providing municipalities with climate resilience technical assistance, funding, and guidelines, currently undergoing a 5-year update. Over 95% of Massachusetts’s municipalities participate in this program, so changes to this one entity are disseminated throughout the state. While this project was in its intermediate stage, sharing this project’s early findings and resources led to strong interest being expressed in increasing PWD inclusion by an MVP program official.

All of this project’s resources are offered for MVP’s consideration, as well as for climate planners and activists in other locales, including: recommendations; resources; existing examples from a few locales; and best practices that provide PWDs with equal access to the interventions and protections in climate resilience planning programs. In addition, the researcher draws on PWD expertise to develop a single document showing how multiple specific climate hazards affect accessibility needs for a wide range of functional limits and disabilities.

A gap in the literature is described in detail: there is no widely used, comprehensive system to describe varied types of functional limits and disabilities, despite those in current use being rejected by PWD experts, or else having either excessive or insufficient detail to be suitable for resilience planning.

The report includes input by policy experts with disabilities on how best to identify, and plan to remove, specific barriers for PWDs with varied functional limits and requirements. The project also connected PWD climate activists with the MVP program. While the project is currently focused on the specifics of Massachusetts, it could be adapted to serve the needs of other locales with relative ease, and these resources will be made available to interested parties.

UN SDGs:

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R_2YtVJ5H9AClNBBh_RAdlerAbramo_Sustainability_Contest_EntryDownload

(FY2) New Generation of Thinkers and Leaders

Author: Cesar Guillen

Advisors: Universidad de Los Andes Professors and La La Salle Merida

Abstract:

An educational application for high school students in Latin America focused on the preparation for higher education and professional development. Providing the guidance and also the establishment of community projects led by Professors and the guidance to overcome the crisis in Latinoamerican countries.

“A place for the development of masters,
a place for the new leaders;
For those willing to learn,
for those committed to transcending.

The community of leaders and makers of today”

NEW_GENERATION_OF_THINKERS_AND_LEADERS_GuillenDownload

(FY1) Using Media to Influence Agricultural Perceptions on Climate Change

Authors: Nick Tomasetti, Nico Alvarado, Ben Mason, Anonymous

Advisors:

Category: First Year

Abstract:

Perceptions of climate change vary in the agricultural demographic as only around half of the farmers believe in human-induced climate change (Arbuckle et al., 2015). Through the creation of a pamphlet, based on psychological principles to maximize impact, we aim to alter unproductive perceptions of climate change. Changing perceptions, we hope to inspire action and lessen our impact on climate change one demographic at a time.

Sources:
Arbuckle, J. G., Morton, L. W., & Hobbs, J. (2015). Understanding Farmer Perspectives on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: The Roles of Trust in Sources of Climate Information, Climate Change Beliefs, and Perceived Risk. Environment and Behavior, 47(2), 205–234.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916513503832. ​

UN SDGs:

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Pamphlet_tomasetti_vankDownload

(GR10) Self-healing Concrete and Enzymatic Construction Material

Authors: Shuai Wang

Advisors: Nima Rahbar

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

We have developed three different applications that will have an extraordinary impact on worldwide concrete consumption and emissions.

UN SDGs:

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Self_Con_and_ECM_Shuai-1Download

(GR9) Rare Earth Metal Recycling Using a Novel, Low-cost Distillation Technology

Authors: Chinenye Chinwego

Advisors: Adam Powell

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

We are perfecting a technology that will extract rare earth metals from magnet scrap because rare earth metals are in short supply in the United States. 95% of rare earth metal production is carried out in China, and right now, there are no U.S. producers. The only non-Chinese producers are Estonia, Vietnam, and Thailand- a small market.

We are looking to build a start-up in the U.S. to fill the vacuum, and part of our research is to prove that out.

UN SDGs:

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(GR8) Design of a Molten Salt Metal-Air Battery with High-Energy Density

Authors: Amanda Lota, Nicolas Masse, Mahya Shahabi, Lucien Wallace

Advisors: Adam Powell

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

Decarbonization of long-haul transportation i.e. ships and trains is among the toughest challenges toward eliminating greenhouse emissions, but metal-air batteries have extraordinary potential to meet this challenge. This talk will present experimental and modeling results for a novel molten salt magnesium-air battery with a MgCl‚-NaCl-KCl-MgO electrolyte operating at 420-620°C. O² dissolves at the cathodes and Mg² at solid magnesium anodes. Experimental results show 1.9 V open circuit voltage, which is the highest to date for an Mg-air battery. Modeling shows up to 0.5 W/cm² at 80% efficiency or 3.3 W/cm² at 42% efficiency. Directional solidification removes MgO reaction product from the molten salt electrolyte. The stability of the cathode material is another criterion for this fuel cell. This battery has the potential for 30-40 times the energy of lithium-ion batteries at very high efficiency, and its Mg anode and molten salt materials are abundant in seawater.

UN SDGs:

metal_air_battery_Shahabi_Final-3Download

(GR7) Gravity-Driven Multiple Effect Thermal System (G-METS) Distillation for Efficient Low-Cost Magnesium Refining

Authors: Armaghan Ehsani Telgerafchi, Gabriel Espinosa, Daniel McArthur, Madison Rutherford

Advisors: Adam Powell

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

The process of multiple effect distillation for the recycling of magnesium can both increase efficiency and reduce cost by up to 90% when compared to batch distillation refinement. This presentation will detail goals and applications of a novel continuous gravity-driven multiple effect thermal system (G-METS) distillation process for magnesium alloys.

UN SDGs:

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gravity_driven_TelgerafchiDownload

(GR6) Reducing Carbon Footprint of Energy-Intensive Industrial Drying by Novel Drying Methods

Authors: Munevver Elif Asar Sarikaya

Advisors: Jamal Yagoobi

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

Manufacturing food, paper, and pharmaceutical products require energy-intensive drying processes. Novel drying methods can be used to decrease the use of energy and carbon emission of drying.

UN SDGs:

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(GR5) Machine Learning for Materials Informatics

Authors: Eric Vertina*, Emily Sutherland Drew Fitzgerald

Advisors:

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

MXenes are a hot topic in materials science research because of their expected unique properties and myriad applications, such as more efficient energy conversion in batteries and solar cells, environmental and water treatment, and many additional applications. This project aims to produce Machine Learning (ML) models that accurately predict certain MXene properties – like electrical conductivity, work function, carrier density, mobility, life-time, and sensitivity to disorder – based on standard elemental information (e.g., electronegativity of each constituent element of the MXene, atomic mass of a MXene molecule, etc.), with training data found from literature as well as data produced by our project’s Density Functional Theory (DFT) team.
*This project is part of the NSF Circular Economy and Data Analytics Engineering Research for Sustainability (CEDAR) grant WPI has received.

UN SDGs:

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*This author is submitting separately, as each member contributes to vastly different aspects of the project

ML_vertinaDownload

(GR4) The Path Towards Fossil Fuel Disruption: Predicting Biofuel Costs with a Single Experiment and Thirty Seconds

Authors: Muntasir Shahabuddin

Advisors: Michael Timko, Nikolaos Kazantzis

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

Our current response to climate change has been through broad-spectrum electrification, as seen in electric vehicles, through the use of energy storage technology. However, to enable the long-distance travel required for freighting and aviation, the energy density of hydrocarbon fuels have yet to be beaten. We can leverage organic wet wastes to produce renewable, low carbon intensity biofuels using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).

With relative maturity on the benchtop, dozens of economic analyses have been performed to elucidate HTL’s viability. These economic analyses assume case-by-case plant design solutions, which are time and resource intensive. This talk will present a model developed to drastically shorten this economic viability screening time using only the results of a single experiment to expedite widespread deployment of HTL.

UN SDGs:

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