In April 2024, the University of Pittsburgh recognized and celebrated the wonderful students, staff, and faculty working to create a more sustainable future at Pitt and beyond. Read more about their inspiring achievements below:
Faculty
Dr. Kevin Bell
Assistant Professor, Bioengineering
Dr. Kevin Bell has contributed to sustainability at Pitt through his innovative course design, cross-disciplinary teaching to students in Engineering and Public Health, and hands-on collaborations with community partners (both locally and globally). Dr. Bell’s “BIOENG 2173: Frugal Design for Low-Resource Environment” course focuses on designing medical products, systems, and solutions for resource-poor settings. For students, the concept of “sustainability” moves from being a theoretical construct to a real-life need; student teams work with communities and learn about low resource conditions, regulatory concerns, and engineering ethics.
Dr. Joaquin Rodriguez
Assistant Professor, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
Dr. Joaquin Rodriguez developed the first curricular ChemE course about sustainability: “Green Chemical Engineering & Sustainability.” The course covers a range of essential topics, including principles of green chemistry and green engineering, life cycle analsis, and ESG and GRI reporting. Student teams then develop technical projects with innovative proposals for more sustainable processes.
Staff
Swagatika Bhattacharya
Foundations Lab Technician, Biological Sciences
Swagatika performed a sustainability audit of all teaching practices in the “Foundations of Biology” course — and took leadership in transforming them into sustainable work spaces. These research-based labs serve thousands of students annually and generate a significant amount of single-use plastic waste. Swagatika researched and implemented best practices to recycle lab plastics for all 80+ lab sections. Swagatika’s efforts dramatically transformed the course’s waste footprint, including the scientific plastic recycling program and refillable dry erase markers now used in classrooms.
Eric Hammill
Recycling & Refurbishing Supervisor, Pitt Surplus
As the first recycling & refurbishing supervisor for Pitt Surplus, Eric Hammill has processed 407,317 pounds of electronic waste generated by the University to-date. Eric and his team have also destroyed 20,791 hard drives (then recycled as metals), which contribute to the 2.9 million pounds of scrap metal recycled by Surplus Property since his start. Eric has also led recycling of 14,273 pounds of batteries and 67,488 pounds of textiles.
Eric also worked with both Pittsburgh Public School’s “Start on Success” program and Life’sWork (which helps adults with disabilities find meaningful employment), training individuals how to recycle and take computers apart. Since 2019, Eric has trained and supervised these team members to help recover 24,950 pounds of precious metals.
Students
Martina Frederick
Environmental Studies ’24
Martina served as the Pitt Athletics Sustainability Intern from Fall 2022 through Spring 2024, helping educate staff and student athletes on waste management, composting, and recycling.
Martina reinvigorated the Athletics Sustainability Committee, which includes staff, coaches, student athletes, and campus partners. With the committee, she helped Athletics gain Pitt Green Office designations and hosted “Green Games” to educate fans on sustainability using the video board, announcements, and volunteers educating fans about composting and recycling.
Maggie Lincoln
Environmental Science / Ecology & Evolution ’24
Throughout her time at Pitt, Maggie Lincoln has been a shining example of student leadership in campus sustainability. After being involved in Pitt Green Team during her freshman year, Maggie was a Pitt EcoRep in her sophomore year, and joined the Student Office of Sustainability (SOOS) as the Pitt Green Suite lead — and now Student Director. Over the years, Maggie helped grow Pitt Green Team membership, engaged first-year students in the Pitt Sustainability Plan, managed the Pitt Green Host program, and led campus-wide sustainaiblity efforts with grace.
As a Pitt EcoRep, Maggie engaging students living on-campus in the Pitt Green Resident program and worked on educational campaigns including “Contamination Examination,” where she monitored her dorm’s trash room habits and customized materials diversion signage based on the issues she observed. Maggie also organized and assisted with the University’s Adopt-a-Block, battery recycling, food waste audits, Farmers Market, Garbage Olympics, and tree plantings; her support has been instrumental in deploying Clutter for a Cause. Through SOOS, Maggie increased professional development for students through an Internship Panel, Zero Waste Career Panel, and a Pitt Sustainability LinkedIn group.
Erika Ninos Student Leadership Award
Christy Kim
Environmental Studies
Christy has been a strong sustainability leader during her time at Pitt. While in SOOS leadership, Christy founded the Eco-Justice Collective, which is dedicated to integrating environmental justice into Pitt’s culture. In this role, she led discussions on environmental justice policy, connected with Pitt’s Community Engagement Center in the Hill District and spoke at Black Women Green Future’s Policy Summit. Christy also spearheaded SOOS’s Sustainable Valentine’s Day Workshops, which have been well attended.
Academically, Christy also advance course student projects on solar power into implementation of Pitt’s first solar-powered picnic tables (located outside Posvar Hall). She has also continued to serve as TA and mentor for student course projects focused on campus sustainability; several projects of note include Greening Greek Life, a Student Climate Anxiety Taskforce, and the student group that helped get Pitt’s first zero waste laundry detergent machine installed in Lothrop Hall.
Student Sustainability Champions
Graduation Students (All graduating in 2024)
- Bishal Dasgupta, Business Administration
- Melinda Go, Public & International Affairs
- Maria Jose Jiminez, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Meghan Orman, Applied Developmental Psychology
- Jessica Vaden, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Undergraduate Students (All graduating in 2024)
- Noel Do, Natural Sciences
- Julia Evers, Environmental Studies
- Alyse Faerberg, Neuroscience
- Claire Gendron, Environmental Engineering
- Jessica Gondak, Chemistry
- Emily Hoag, Geology
- Ria Hosuru, Neuroscience / Statistics
- Cindy Le, Biological Sciences
- Amanda Lee, Environmental Engineering
- Han Lempert, Urban Studies
- Nicole Marchese, Marketing
- Salome Margalitachvili, Public Health
- Abhi Nangunoori, Biological Sciences / Economics
- Elise Rinke, Biology & Environmental Science
- Mollie Rothbaum, Environmental Studies
- Ana Rowley, Environmental Science
2024 Student Sustainability Symposium
The 2024 Pitt Student Sustainability Symposium is an opportunity for students to share the sustainability projects they have worked on throughout the semester with campus leaders.
The Center for Sustainable Business kicked off the event with student fellows introducing their experiences helping businesses further and deepen their sustainability practices. Then the “ENGR1907: Sustainability Capstone” students presented their projects, deployed in partnership with external organizations, government agencies, and nonprofits. The symposium ended with a poster session and class presentations by undergraduates in the “GEOL133 Sustainability” class.
2024 Pitt Sustainability Symposium
Swagatika Bhattacharya (Award winner) at 2024 Pitt Sustainability Symposium
2024 Pitt Sustainability Symposium
2024 Pitt Sustainability Symposium
Pitt Sustainability Symposium held at the O’Hara Student Center, April 19, 2024
Dr. Kevin Bell (Award winner) at 2024 Pitt Sustainability Symposium
2024 Pitt Sustainability Symposium
2024 Pitt Sustainability Symposium