Sustainability – Selected Current Activities & MEEM Role John W. Sutherland, Ph.D. Henes Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical.

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 Universitywww.sfi.mtu.edu

http://www.sfi.mtu.edu/

www.sfi.mtu.eduSustainable Futures Institute

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


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


Senegal

International Education

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


Center for Science and Environmental Outreach

Developing State’s 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


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.


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.


Wood-to-Wheels (W2W) Concept

Woody Biomass

CO2

Bio-ProcessingPhoto: Glacial Lakes Energy

Electricity Export and Carbon Credit

Vehicle Systems

Saturn Hybrid


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.


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


Opportunities Raytheon – solar collector Consortium – Alternative & Renewable

Energy Technologies IUCRC – Assembly/Disassembly Materials Recycling Behavior of Socio-Political Systems ERC Wood-to-Wheels Other…


Discussion


Sustainability – Selected Current Activities & MEEM Role John W. Sutherland, Ph.D. Henes Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical.

Documents

environmental science

water issues

water society mtcwsestablished

environmental education

water quality conditions

w2w value chain

engineering of systems

environmental impacts