Twelve student teams from eight colleges and universities across New York state will present their solution to an environmental problem within their community at the fourth annual New York State Pollution Prevention Institute Research and Development Student Competition on April 22 at Rensselaer.
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) is a partnership between RIT, Clarkson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo and the 10 NYS Regional Technology Development Centers. Image credit: NYSP2I
The competition, to be held in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS), begins at 9 a.m. with a welcome that includes remarks from Joseph Martens, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. An exhibition, to be held from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will feature the competing teams, as well as posters from more than 100 K-12 students, on display in the first and second-floor atrium of the CBIS.
A panel of judges, including Rensselaer graduates Gavin McIntyre ’07, co-founder and chief scientist of Ecovative Design, and Anasha Cummings ’12, initiator at Transition Troy, will announce winners at 1 p.m. The competition is sponsored by the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Gavin McIntyre ’07, co-founder and chief scientist of Ecovative Design.
As part of its Research and Development Program, NYSP2I challenged teams of full-time students enrolled at any institute of higher education in New York state to identify a specific activity at their university or in their community with a large environmental footprint. Teams were then required to propose innovative solutions to reduce its impact. Schools are competing under the theme “Greenovate NYS” by undergraduate or graduate level.
Competing teams were announced in January, with each team receiving up to $1,000 for materials to develop their idea. The teams come from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer, the State University of New York College at Brockport, Clarkson University, Siena College, Syracuse University, St. Lawrence University, and the University at Buffalo.
Anasha Cummings ’12, initiator at Transition Troy.
Each first-place team will receive $1,500 to share among team members; the second-place school will receive $750; and third place $250, as well as a trophy commemorating the award.
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is a partnership between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Rochester Institute of Technology and its Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo, and Clarkson University, with a statewide reach. NYSP2I’s goal is to make the state more sustainable for workers, the public, the environment, and the economy through pollution prevention. Pollution prevention is reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and reusing materials rather than putting them into the waste stream.