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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh has announced its 2023-24 Research Seed Grants and Faculty Award recipients.
The grants support research and education teams from across the University that are focused on finding sustainable solutions to the world’s problems. These projects cover three broad topical areas, including climate impacts and health, environmental justice and circular economy.
"We are thrilled to have the support and commitment of faculty from across the University of Pittsburgh who share our passion for sustainability," said Gena Kovalcik, co-director of the Mascaro Center. "Together with our external review team, we have carefully chosen projects with the potential to make a lasting, positive impact on the environment. It is through our collective efforts that we can drive meaningful change and create a more sustainable future."
Here are this year’s recipients.
Research Seed Grants
Shanti Gamper-Rabindran, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and Tony Kerzmann, mechanical engineering in the Swanson School of Engineering, “Deploying Solar Projects in Rural Southwestern Pennsylvania: Understanding and Securing Community Acceptance”
Mohammad Masnadi, chemical engineering in the Swanson School, “Cellulosic Biomass Conversion via Liquid Metal Catalysis”
Cori Richards-Zawacki, biology in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, “Building and Bridging On-Campus and Field-Based Summer Undergraduate Research Programs in Sustainability”
Sachin Velankar, chemical engineering in the Swanson School, “Thermal Desalination Process Based on Hydrate Crystallization of Polyoxacyclobutane”
Faculty Awards
Mohamed Bayoumy, electrical and computer engineering in the Swanson School, “Integrating Green Electronics Education in ECE Classes II”
Inhee Lee, electrical and computer engineering in the Swanson School, “Creating a Sustainability Network between Engineering and Ecology for Ecosystem Monitoring”
Amr Mahmoud, electrical and computer engineering in the Swanson School, “Green Computing and Sustainable Software Development”
Sarah Moore, film and media studies in the Dietrich School, “Sustainability Through the Lens of Film and Media Projects”
Stephen Quigley, English in the Dietrich School, “My Nature Outing Curriculum Development”
— Maggie Lindenberg, photography by Aimee Obidzinski