(UG03) From Cafeteria to Compost: Sustainable Food Waste Management at WPI

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<p><strong>Author(s):</strong> Gabriel Espinosa, Abigail Holmes, Hildey McCorkell, Jackson Nguyen</p>
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<p><strong>Advisor(s):</strong> Paul Mathisen and Nicole Luiz</p>
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<p><strong>Category:</strong> <a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/undergrad-iqp-humanities-other/” data-type=”page” data-id=”59″>Undergraduate</a> </p>
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<p><strong>Abstract:</strong> The WPI Green Team is spearheading efforts to reduce food waste in campus dining halls as well as throughout WPI Greek Life. The team’s Project Zero Waste Initiative promotes sustainable practices by encouraging students to be conscious of their food waste. The Green Team is additionally partnering with WPI Greek Life to implement vermicomposting at each Greek Life house, showcasing not only their commitment to sustainability but to inspiring other campus organizations to join the cause.</p>
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<p><strong>UN SDGs:</strong> <a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/tag/sdg-11-sustainable-cities-and-communities/” data-type=”post_tag” data-id=”10″>SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities</a><a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/tag/sdg-12-responsible-consumption-and-production/” data-type=”post_tag” data-id=”9″>, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production</a>, <a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/tag/sdg-13-climate-action/” data-type=”post_tag” data-id=”7″>SDG 13 -Climate Action</a></p>
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<p><strong>Video Presentation:</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Poster Presentation:</strong></p>
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<div class=”wp-block-file”><object class=”wp-block-file__embed” data=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/files/2023/04/UG03_From_Cafeteria_to_Compost_Sustainable_Food_Waste_Management_at_WPI.pdf” type=”application/pdf” style=”width:100%;height:600px” aria-label=”UG03_From_Cafeteria_to_Compost_Sustainable_Food_Waste_Management_at_WPI”></object><a id=”wp-block-file–media-bfde9f76-6632-4b9e-84c2-93af2218378a” href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/files/2023/04/UG03_From_Cafeteria_to_Compost_Sustainable_Food_Waste_Management_at_WPI.pdf”>UG03_From_Cafeteria_to_Compost_Sustainable_Food_Waste_Management_at_WPI</a><a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/files/2023/04/UG03_From_Cafeteria_to_Compost_Sustainable_Food_Waste_Management_at_WPI.pdf” class=”wp-block-file__button wp-element-button” download aria-describedby=”wp-block-file–media-bfde9f76-6632-4b9e-84c2-93af2218378a”>Download</a></div>
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(UG01) Creating a HABITAT for Healing at Banksia Gardens: Heat And Biodiversity Tracking through Automated Technologies

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<p><strong>Author(s):</strong> Emmanuel Vargas, Stephen Fanning, Lily Bromberger, Eric Schuman</p>
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<p><strong>Advisor(s):</strong> Aarti Madan, Ryan Madan</p>
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<p><strong>Category:</strong> <a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/undergrad-iqp-humanities-other/” data-type=”page” data-id=”59″>Undergraduate</a> </p>
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<p><strong>Abstract:</strong> Extreme heat—which includes temperatures of 40°C (104°F) or higher—is becoming increasingly frequent in Australia, and the effects on wildlife are clear as we enter the sixth mass extinction. Not only does climate change affect biodiversity, it also creates additional hardship for economically disadvantaged municipalities that lack the resources to deal with these issues. Yet, functional greenspaces and shaded areas are crucial to deal with extreme temperatures, allowing spaces for people and wildlife to escape the heat. In Melbourne, Victoria, Banksia Gardens Community Services is one of the few organizations attending to climate justice through their community-based work. Their Climate Adaptation Garden Initiative seeks to minimize the effects of extreme heat on people and wildlife, as well as to foster community engagement, pride and wellbeing. Our team was tasked with developing a process to automatically measure the impacts of their efforts to enhance biodiversity and decrease temperatures across six property gardens. To accomplish this goal, we created a network of custom-built heat sensors around the property to track temperature, a database that collects information on biodiversity and local temperatures , and multiple citizen science activities to ensure continued biodiversity data collection. The increased participation in citizen science and development of functional greenspaces will result in both a stronger environment and community in Broadmeadows. </p>
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<p><strong>UN SDGs:</strong> <a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/tag/sdg-10-reduced-inequalities/” data-type=”post_tag” data-id=”22″>SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities</a>, <a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/tag/sdg-13-climate-action/” data-type=”post_tag” data-id=”7″>SDG 13 – Climate Action</a></p>
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<p><strong>Video Presentation:</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Poster Presentation:</strong></p>
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<div class=”wp-block-file”><object class=”wp-block-file__embed” data=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/files/2023/04/UG01_HABITAT.pdf” type=”application/pdf” style=”width:100%;height:600px” aria-label=”UG01_HABITAT”></object><a id=”wp-block-file–media-d5467ef9-f46d-44e1-8620-6e2570a9a387″ href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/files/2023/04/UG01_HABITAT.pdf”>UG01_HABITAT</a><a href=”https://wp.wpi.edu/sustainabilitycompetition15/files/2023/04/UG01_HABITAT.pdf” class=”wp-block-file__button wp-element-button” download aria-describedby=”wp-block-file–media-d5467ef9-f46d-44e1-8620-6e2570a9a387″>Download</a></div>
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<p>To find our videos and supplementary materials visit our website here: <a href=”https://sites.google.com/banksiagardens.org.au/heatbiodiversityaudit/home” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>https://sites.google.com/banksiagardens.org.au/heatbiodiversityaudit/home</a></p>
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(GR05) Improving Paper Drying with Phase Change Materials

Author(s): Itamar Harris

Advisor(s): Jamal Yagoobi

Category: Graduate

Abstract: Efficient paper drying is a significant challenge for the paper industry, prompting industry experts and researchers to seek alternative technologies. Phase change materials (PCMs) have emerged as a promising solution due to their ability to store and release heat during phase transitions from solid to liquid and vice versa. This research aims to explore the impact of PCMs on the drying process of paper, with the ultimate goal of developing more efficient and sustainable solutions for the paper and packaging industry.

UN SDGs: SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 – Climate Action

Video Presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/xxuC2mTCTDU

Poster Presentation:

G05_Improving_Paper_Drying_with_Phase_Change_MaterialsDownload

(GR04) Engineered Biological Construction Material: Self-healing Carbon Negative Enzymatic Construction Materials

Authors: Shuai Wang

Advisors: Nima Rahbar

Category: Graduate

Abstract: Concrete is one of the main contributors to global CO2 emission, and efforts to find an alternative to concrete have not been fully successful. Inspired by the process of CO2 exchange in biological cells, we introduced a novel method to create a CO2 negative-emission enzymatic construction material (ECM) with self-healing capabilities. The proposed concept uses carbonic anhydrase (CA) to catalyze the condensation of CO2 and water to promote the precipitation of calcium ions in the aqueous solution as calcium carbonate crystals. The resulting ECM has compressive strength and Young’s modulus more than twice that of the minimum acceptable for cement mortar and other alternative building materials.

UN SDGs: SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13 – Climate Action

 

Video Presentation:

Link: https://echo360.org/media/89ccd10f-8ba7-4590-a491-f165ede07829/public

 

Poster Presentation:

G04_Engineered_Biological_Construction_Material_Self-healing_Carbon_Negative_Emission_Enzymatic_Construction_Materials_ECMDownload

(GR02) Advances in Magnesium Primary Production by Reactive Cathode Molten Salt Electrolysis with G-METS Distillation

Authors: Zujian Tang, Daniel Sehar

Advisors: Adam C. Powell​

Category: Graduate

Abstract: Molten salt electrolysis with a liquid Sn cathode overcomes multiple challenges in reduction of MgO to Mg, particularly the low density and high activity of magnesium metal. It can use carbon anodes in a design very similar to the Hall-Héroult cell, or solid oxide membrane (SOM) anodes for pure oxygen by-product production. G-METS distillation is potentially much more energy-efficient and lower cost than traditional batch distillation for separation of the magnesium metal product from the reactive cathode material.​

UN SDGs: SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9 – Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 13 – Climate Action

Video Presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oSx_mWz9LkY

 

Poster Presentation:

G02_Advances_in_Magnesium_Primary_Production_by_Reactive_Cathode_Molten_Salt_Electrolysis_with_G-METS_Distillation_Download

(FY03) Recycled Orchestra: Bottle Marimba

Authors: John Denney, Brian Gomez, Annarose Avery, Ryan Addeche, Emre Sunar

Advisors: Jack Yebba, Svetlana Nikitina

Category: First Year

Abstract: Tons of trash are poured into a village that lives on a landfill in Cateura, Paraguay, and the community has risen up and created Orchestra H20 for kids that make and play instruments out of the trash. We sought out to create an instrument made from commonly found waste in Cateura and produce a reconstruction guide for Orchestra H20 so they can use the instrument in their ensembles. We hope to inspire others to repurpose used materials for social, educational, and environmental benefits.

UN SDGs: SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 – Climate Action

Video Presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1H5leARGTJY

 

Poster Presentation:

FY03_Recycled_Orchestra_Bottle_MarimbaDownload

(FY02) Project Happy Cow

Authors: Kasia Nolan, Samantha Diener, Devin Roskoph, Aishwarya Silam

Advisors: Marja Bakermans and Geoffrey Pfeifer

Category: First Year

Abstract: Animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change, as a matter of fact, livestock and their byproducts account for 51% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Hyde, 2015). As such an important issue, our project addresses the environmental impact of meat production and creates an educational method for college students to reduce meat consumption.

UN SGDs: SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 – Climate Action

Video Presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/d1QbZ4urNRM

Poster Presentation:

FY02_Project_Happy_CowDownload

(FY01) Geothermal: A Green Solution to Rising Temperatures

Authors: Alex Sheehey, Samantha Simmons, Federico Vegas, Jackson Wamback

Advisors: Professor David Medich and Professor Derren Rosbach

Category: First Year

Abstract: Our group looked into WPI’s emissions in an attempt to determine where and how WPI could have the greatest reduction on its emissions. Our team determined that WPI’s current, steam-based, gas turbine heating system is highly inefficient. Upon further research, the group concluded that replacing the current system with a geothermal heat pump system would be the most effective method for WPI to take to reduce its overall emissions.

UN SDGs: SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9 – Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 13 – Climate Action

Video Presentation:

 

Poster Presentation:

FY01_Geothermal_A_Green_Solution_to_Rising_TemperaturesDownload