MCSI Partnerships Create Public Good

Hydroponics Club

The University of Pittsburgh’s Hydroponics Club is sponsored by MCSI and advised by Dr. David Sanchez. This past year, they worked to build an insulated microclimate in their Homewood garage. This microclimate will allow them to grow produce year-round (not previously practical in winter). To implement the project, the Hydroponics Club received funding from the Pitt Green Fund and completed the project in the Spring 2022 semester. This microclimate currently houses two running nutrient film technique (NFT) systems that produce 48 crops each, a small Dutch bucket system, and an ongoing vertical system project. Now that the microclimate has been built, the Hydroponics Club can continue donating produce to the Everyday Cafe in Homewood.

Homewood – Ruach Bicycle Club

Supported with funding by MCSI and led by faculty mentor, Dr. Bob Kerestes and his PhD student, Sabrina Nguyen, the Ruach Bicycle Club outreach program worked with underrepresented minority youths on building a solar powered bicycle LED charger. The students learned how to use basic electrical tools, wiring and soldering basics, circuit protection, and about using renewable energy.

Oasis Farm & Fishery Volunteer Days

Volunteer days at the Oasis Farm and Fishery were held five times during the 2021-22 school year and managed by MCSI’s Community Engagement Intern, Emily Albrecht, working with Dr. David Sanchez on community outreach opportunities. The Oasis Farm and Fishery is a local community garden and educational center in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Volunteers helped with planting and harvesting crops in both raised soil beds and the aquaponics shed. Additional tasks included creating a tree and permaculture garden, pollinator garden, woodchip paths, mushroom spore cultivation, and helping the farm prepare for the winter season. 82 student volunteers came out on weekends across all volunteer days. MCSI also worked closely with Pitt student groups the Hydroponics Club and Engineers without Borders to support the Oasis Farm and Fishery. Students were eager to volunteer and looked forward to upcoming volunteer day opportunities.

An ongoing project (and primary motivation to organize these volunteer days) was the construction of the 24 by 48 foot high tunnel greenhouse funded by a grant MCIS received through Pitt’s Year of Engagement. The high tunnel greenhouse was also a capstone project for the Fall ENGR1907 “Sustainability Capstone” course, which is required for students pursuing the Sustainability Certificate. Volunteers were provided with lunch, which was purchased from the Everyday Café, a local business in Homewood.

The land was excavated and leveled by a local contractor, J.R. Hall Excavating Inc, which allowed the construction of the greenhouse to begin. Greenhouse materials such as soil, compost, and gravel were purchased from the Barn Landscape Supply and Chapon’s Greenhouse & Supply. The high tunnel greenhouse was also a capstone project for the Fall ENGR1907 Sustainability Capstone course

As of April 2022, the frame for the greenhouse is built and construction will continue throughout the summer.

TEN Energy Education Program with Allegheny Technical Academy

In partnership with The Efficiency Network (TEN) and with funding from the Duquesne Light Foundation, MCSI created an energy educational program to support Pittsburgh Public School’s (PPS), Allegheny Traditional Academy (ATA) which educates K-8 students. TEN is currently completing an energy conservation project for PPS at ATA, which is the impetus for the student education project. MCSI partnered to host 3 sessions led by Dr. Melissa Bilec and Jessica Vaden and 1 session led by Dr. David Sanchez and Emily Albrecht. We also hosted ATA at MCSI and SSOE on June 9, 2022, where they toured the makerspace, watched a demonstration of the laser cutter and 3D printers, and built their own mini-hydroponics system.

Chalfant Run Thompson Run Watershed Association

Drs. Patrick Shirey (Environmental Science) and Sarah Moore (Film and Media Studies) are working with the Chalfant Run Thompson Run Watershed Association (Director Renee Dolney), Hedin Environmental (Ben Hedin), and Allegheny Land Trust to collect prerestoration data on Chalfant Run and its fish community. Subsequently, stream restoration at the Churchill Valley Greenway (former Churchill Valley Country Club) will remediate Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and legacy fine sediment floodplain pollution. Their Before-After-Control-Impact design will help communicate the importance of restoring these types of steams impacted by multiple sources of pollution in the Appalachian Region.

EnergyTech UP Explore Event Mid-Atlantic Showcase Student Team

Dr. Bob Kerestes (Electrical Engineering) led a Pitt student team to compete for the EnergyTech University Prize. This “Residential Intelligent Breaker System” (RIBS) group developed a system that worked on a residential level to start tackling this problem. Concept breakers would be installed in home electrical panels track real time prices and user behavior to cut electricity costs and to help close the discrepancy between supply and demand.

Pittsburgh Electric Propulsion

MCSI sponsored the Pittsburgh Electric Propulsion student group this academic year. This nonprofit Engineering team explores the future of electric vehicles. They earned 3rd Place at the American Society of Naval Engineers’ Spring “Promoting Electric Propulsion for Small Craft Competition.” The team built a fully electric-powered speed boat capable of completing a 5-mile race against collegiate teams from across the country.

Introduction to Arctic Issues Workshop

Joint program with Global Studies Center, Global Experiences Office, & Ford Institute

75 attendees at this Arctic Issues Workshop included students from Pitt and other universities, K-12 educators, Pitt faculty, and other members of the Pitt community. Attendees were inspired by speakers on topics including environmental and climate justice, Arctic security, erosion in permafrost landscapes, sustainable wound dressings (made of Icelandic fish skin), and art in the Arctic Circle.