Eight University of Hawaiʻi students showcased their research, hands-on practice and community collaboration at the inaugural Office of Sustainability open house.
The student presenters detailed their projects’ data and research, and laid out plans for action toward UH’s long-term sustainability goals.
Projects included waste reduction, energy monitoring, green purchasing and renewable energy initiatives across UH Mānoa.
“These projects are like a living learning lab,” said Ruby Aliason, Office of Sustainability marketing coordinator. “The students are applying what they learn in the classroom to real-world challenges at UH and they’re making a real difference.”
Taking UH into a sustainable future
Kristine Joyce Locquiao, a senior electrical engineering student centered her research around outdated analog gas meters at UH Mānoa.
“Currently, someone has to physically walk around once a month to record [gas] readings. This process is not efficient, and it also means we do not get any live data or early insights if there is a problem,” Locquiao said.
She and her team in the Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) program are installing a small computer to take photos of gas meters and automatically read the dials.
A student-centered approach
The Office of Sustainability hopes the event will highlight student contributions in sustainability beyond the classroom as many students are interested in sustainability but do not have the capacity to take related courses. However, their work often informs campus decision-making on issues such as recycling and energy efficiency.
Plans include making the open house an annual event and expanding project opportunities for students to create stronger links between student-led projects and the university’s sustainability goals.
“These student projects aren’t just important to the mission of our office, but they’re important for promoting sustainability for the future of all of UH,” Aliason said.
—By Grant Nakasone
