2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Approximately 7.6 billion tons of industrial waste are generated in the United States each year, among which only 30% of the waste stream is currently recycled. Whereas the remainder accumulates in landfills, posing a significant environmental challenge. To better promote sustainability, it is essential to equip the next generation of researchers with the knowledge and skills required for effective waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.
Through this ongoing NSF NSF-funded project, we have developed an innovative teaching and training methodology to address this critical gap and engage undergraduate students in STEM fields. We actively involve eight STEM undergraduate students in interdisciplinary and laboratory-based research activities focused on waste-to-value concepts. Through ten weeks of training, all participants were immersed in the practical applications of sustainable waste management strategies through self and peer learning. The project outcomes were evaluated by assessing the knowledge acquisition and skill development resulting from the 10-week training period of our eight student participants with diverse STEM backgrounds.
Our initiative extends beyond individual student growth; the insights gained from this NSF-funded project have broader implications for curriculum enhancement on a national scale. As we continue to refine and expand our teaching methodology, we anticipate that our efforts will contribute to developing a more environmentally conscious and skilled workforce to address the challenges of waste management and sustainability.