Summer Sustainability Scholars at Rose-Hulman
Roses are red, but Rose-Hulman is turning green. As scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, Rose-Hulman students are equipped to help tackle the complex, multi-faceted challenges faced on local to global scales.
Through the Summer Sustainability Scholars program, current Rose-Hulman students can pursue discipline-specific undergraduate research in sustainability with the guidance of a faculty mentor. Summer Sustainability Scholars complete 10 weeks of paid, on-campus research, working 35-40 hours per week with their mentor, before presenting their work in a poster session at the end of the summer.
The Summer Sustainability Scholars program is open to any current Rose-Hulman student, regardless of major or year in school.
Though scholars tackle individual research projects, the Summer Sustainability Scholars work in a cohort, learning from each other through research meetings and bonding activities. In addition, the program incorporates workshops and field trips with sustainability resources in the Terre Haute area, connecting students with practicing professionals.
Previous Summer Sustainability Scholars research projects have included developing sustainable pharmaceuticals, testing soil shear strength to prevent landslides, designing a water pump and turbine, and using native plants on green roofs.
The possibilities are endless. Each year, Rose-Hulman faculty submit proposals for sustainability-focused undergraduate research projects, and, through an application process each spring, current Rose-Hulman students are paired with a project to match their interests and strengths. Many students view the Summer Sustainability Scholars program as an opportunity to explore a research project outside of their primary major.
The Summer Sustainability Scholars program was created to support the strategic plan, Advancing By Design , and its goal to increase the breadth and depth of sustainability programming within the Rose-Hulman curriculum.
For more information about the Summer Sustainability Scholars and the application process, contact Alfred R. Schmidt Endowed Chair for Excellence in Teaching & Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Jenny Mueller, PhD at jenny.mueller@rhit.edu.
