7 from Pitt on The Incline’s Who’s Next: Environment & Energy 2019 List
Check out which Pitt alums, students, and staff made The Incline’s first-ever Who’s Next: Environment and Energy class!
Seven University of Pittsburgh alums, students, and staff made The Incline’s first-ever Who’s Next: Environment and Energy class! We’re excited to help showcase them (and be sure to click and read more about the other 6, who are equally amazing) below!
- Ben Barson, Coordinator and Composer, Afro Yaqui Music Collective
“As coordinator and composer with the Afro Yaqui Music Collective, Ben helped create Mirror Butterfly: Migrant Liberation Suite, a 50-minute opera and allegory about the impacts of climate change.” - Douglas R. Kauffman, Research Chemist, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory
Douglas works to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels by finding new uses for carbon dioxide, including converting it into more useful chemicals and fuels. - Kurt Lindsey, Community Food Connections Coordinator, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Kurt’s core work at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank focuses on makign connections across Pittsburgh, but he also works on reducing food waste while simultaneously providing more nutritious meals to more people. - Anaïs Peterson, Co-Organizer, Fossil Free Pitt Coalition
A core organizer with the Fossil Free Pitt Coalition, active member of the People over Petro Coalition, and Executive VP of Pitt’s Student Government Board, Anaïs is an active and vocal member of Pitt and Pittsburgh’s environmental movement and progress. - Kareem Rabbat, Chief Innovation Officer, Ecotone Renewables (CEE ’20)
Kareem’s company, Ecotone Renewables, earned him a spot in the Who’s Next class. The company converted shipping containers into biodigesters and greenhouses throughout the city. In addition to Ecotone Renewables’ work, his research at Pitt looks at ways to use bacteria and fungi to naturally and sustainably remove contaminants from soil and water. - Noah Snyder, President & CEO, Interphase Materials (PhD BioE ’15)
Noah founded Interphase Materials in 2015 when he realized the impact that biodegradable materials used for the medical brain implants he was researching could have on industrial and commercial heat exchangers. His company’s shown that commercial applications of the materials reduces energy consumption of large water-cooled HVAC units and heat exchangers, which has a positive impact on the local environment as well as the energy grid. - Aurora Sharrard, Director of Sustainability, University of Pittsburgh
Aurora’s work at Pitt has had a far-reaching impact in making the school greener. She’s enabling the implementation of Pitt’s first Sustainability Plan and created the Office of Sustainability to make the plan a reality. The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and landfill waste and focus on using renewable energy on campus. She’s also worked with the Green Building Alliance, where she co-founded the Pittsburgh’s 2030 District, which aspires to reduce energy use, water consumption and transportation emissions 50% by 2030 (Pitt is, of course, a 2030 partner).
Read more about The Incline’s full 2019 Who’s Next: Environment and Energy class.