The Research, Resource, & Outreach (RRO) Division is dedicated to developing innovative engineering solutions to pressing environmental challenges. Current projects focus on nutrient recapturing and repurposing strategies to mitigate eutrophication in local waterways, while providing members with hands-on experience in experimental design, data analysis, and sustainable systems development. Through scientific inquiry and experimentation, the division empowers students to transform ideas into real-world solutions.
Members are expected to attend the weekly general-body meetings Mondays 6 - 7PM and weekly sub-team meetings.
The Design subteam is using a wide range of engineering concepts to design a practical process to implement a light-driven air carbon capture molecule recently created by PhD students in Cornell's Milner Lab. They have created two different process designs and are also focusing on process analysis using techno-economic analysis and life cycle analysis techniques. They are planning proof-of-concept lab work to demonstrate the feasibility of their designs for this project, and are also working on starting up a new project for the upcoming semester.
Team Lead(s):
Isabelle Bennie (ikb25@cornell.edu), Vanshikha Sabbi (ls2242@cornell.edu)
The mission of the Business and Outreach sub team is to amplify the reach of ESW into the local community and highlight the importance of business in engineering. We accomplish this by intentionally engaging with the community, working with stakeholders, and sharing STEM and sustainability lessons with underserved audiences.
Team Lead(s):
Emma Pereira (ejp99@cornell.edu), Sophie Lin (sl3474@cornell.edu)
The primary goal of the Research and Development sub-team is to develop innovative nutrient recapturing and repurposing solutions to reduce eutrophication in local waterways. Our projects aim to enhance the engineering skills of our members and improve the environmental conditions of the communities in which we reside.
Team Lead(s) :
PJ Brunette (mpb222@cornell.edu), James Hong (jh2876@cornell.edu)
REE TEA
During fall of 2020 up to the spring of 2022, the BioImp subteam had been performing a technoeconomic analysis of rare earth element bioextraction (REE TEA). The project focused on the process of extracting rare earth elements from a source through purification techniques. The traditional method of REE extraction requires high temperatures and pressures, which can be highly energy-intensive. An alternative method involves using microbes that excrete organic acids, This process is more environmentally friendly, but also less efficient, so the team had been working to analyze the economic feasibility of using these microbes. BioImp was working with BEE professor Buz Barstow, who has been working to make the microbes produce more organic acid in order to increase efficiency. The team analyzed whether using these new microbes would make the process more economically feasible.
Modelling Struvite Formation
R&D had computationally modeled the formation of struvite, a slow release fertilizer, from waste whey streams. The team learned and used the equilibrium modeling software Visual MINTEQ to complete the analysis. If these methods were found to be cost-effective for their impact on Struvite formation, Acid Whey waste from local dairy processing plants would be collected and in person tests would be conducted to corroborate model results. R&D compiled and analyzed results and published a research paper on this work.