What impact does human development have on coastal ecosystems? Is land application water treatment more efficient than traditional wastewater treatment? Can a bacteria improve the affordability of using methane gas as an energy source?
These are the issues explored by undergraduate student recipients of NC State’s first Outstanding Sustainability Research award. At the university’s spring Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 20, three students received awards:
- Hallie Hartley, a senior majoring in Environmental Technology and Management, for her research proposal titled, “Comparing the Efficiency of Treating Waste Water Using
Land Application and a Waste Water Treatment Plant” - Stephanie Wenclawski, a senior majoring in Marine Sciences, for her research proposal titled, “Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Marine Megafauna Density”
- Luis Roldan, a sophomore majoring in Chemical and Biomanufacturing Engineering, for his research proposal titled, “Developing non-growth conditions for Methylomicrobium Alcaliphilum 20ZR”
The winners were selected by the University Sustainability Office from a field of more than 25 sustainability-related undergraduate research projects based on criteria including clarity, practical applicability and inclusion of various aspects of sustainability.
“This award recognizes the undergraduate research projects that best contribute to the understanding of sustainability or to improving or developing sustainable practices,” said Liz Bowen, a program coordinator with the University Sustainability Office. “The concept of sustainability centers on a balance of society, economy and environment for current and future health. Sustainability research helps address society’s grand challenges.”