Sustainability Selected Current Activities

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Sustainability Selected Current Activities
MEEM Role

• John W. Sutherland, Ph.D.
• Henes Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering,
• Dept. of Mechanical Engr. - Engr. Mechanics
• Co-Director,
• Sustainable Futures Institute
• Michigan Technological University
• www.sfi.mtu.edu

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Brief Overview of Research

• Sustainability is Michigan Tech's "claim to fame"
• Biotechnology Research Center (BRC)
• Ecosystem Science Center (ESC)
• Sustainable Futures Institute (SFI)
• Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society
  (MTCWS)
• Center for Environ. Benign Functional Materials
  (CEBFM)
• Wood-to-Wheels Graduate Enterprise
• Power and Energy Research Center (PERC)
• Lake Superior Ecosystem Research Center (LaSER)
• Strengths
• Water
• International Development
• Sustainability Education
• Industrial Ecology
• Natural Resources

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Center for Water Society (MTCWS)

• Established in June of 2005 under the Sustainable
  Futures Institute (SFI)
• Support research, education, and outreach in all
  disciplines at MichiganTech related to water
  issues
• Provide the multidisciplinary perspectives and
  tools to manage water-related problems of local,
  regional, and international interest

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International Education

• Locations of students (e.g., thru Peace Corps)

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Center for Science and Environmental Outreach

• Developing States Middle School Curriculum for
  ecosystems, land use and human impact, energy,
  water, and air
• Design Guidelines for Community Development
• Programs for pre-college teacher and students

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Industrial Ecology
Shonnard, D.R., Kicherer, A., and Saling, P.,
2003, Industrial Applications Using BASF
Eco-Efficiency Analysis Perspectives on Green
Engineering Principles, Environmental Science and
Technology, 37(23), 5340-5348.
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Natural Resources

• Assess potential hydrologic and environmental
  impacts.
• Monitor hydrologic and water quality conditions
  in real-time.
• Convey information to decision-makers to promote
  timely actions that maintain key water resources
  functions.
• Serve as a tool for environmental education and
  stakeholder participation.

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Wood-to-Wheels (W2W) Concept
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W2W Vision

• Develop and demonstrate technologies in four
  areas
• Woody Biomass Resources
• Biochemical and thermochemical processing
• Vehicles and engines
• Assessment, sustainable decisions, societal
  impacts
• To facilitate the creation and promote the growth
  of businesses engaged in the W2W value chain.
• Achieve international impact in development of
  sound science and engineering of systems in the
  W2W value chain.

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MEEM Strengths Areas

• Mechanics Materials
• Center for Environmentally Benign Functional
  Materials
• Energy Thermo Fluids
• Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APSRC)
• W2W Engines
• Design/Dynamic Systems
• W2W Equipment
• Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering
• Green Processing
• Disassembly / Takeback Value Recovery

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Opportunities

• Raytheon solar collector
• Consortium Alternative Renewable Energy
  Technologies
• IUCRC Assembly/Disassembly
• Materials Recycling
• Behavior of Socio-Political Systems
• ERC Wood-to-Wheels
• Other

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• Discussion

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