This project aims to find a way to create a hydroponic and/or aquaponic farming process that allows for practical autonomy while also being compatible and just as effective with other sustainable practices (no-waste, beekeeping). Our goal is to successfully create a self-sustaining farm system that grows healthy and nutrient-rich produce with little to no human intervention.
Project Leader: Geoff Garcia (grg7576@rit.edu)
Part of our continuing support of the RIT community garden, we are installing a system that will catch rainwater and store in barrels for use in the garden. There is no running water to the garden so this would save labor and capitalize on a resource that is abundant in Rochester. We are also fixing up the solar panels to provide power to the shed in the garden. There is some research being done with flies that require proper temperature control, and the power supplied to the shed during the winter especially would support this research
Project Leader: Will Hagele (wbh8954@rit.edu)
Dr. Alan Smerbeck is working with outreach groups in Rochester to build heaters for the homeless, and has asked us to help with the technical side of things. The heaters are safe and extremely low cost.
Project Leader: Jon Brennan (jfb6753@rit.edu)
A local community garden reached out to us to help build an irrigation system for them. After some research and discussion, we determined a drip system would work best for the requirements they were looking for.
Project Leader: Abel Sullivan (jas7620@rit.edu)
The on-campus maker space, The Construct, has a 3D printer filament recycler, but has no way to collect filament. The goal of this project is to create a collection system that separates different types of filament to be used in the recycler.
Project Leader: Ryan Mejia (rm6489@rit.edu)
In collaboration with the Biotech Club, we will be genetically modifying bacteria to absorb CO2 and then create biofuel.
Project Leader: Nathan McIallen (nwm7629@g.rit.edu)
We are working with Arkport Catholic Worker Homestead to develop cheap greenhouse kits to be used by families in food deserts and/or to teach kids about plants in schools. The goal of this project is to develop a cheap, small and easy to use greenhouses as the currently available options are very expensive.
Project Leader: Carly Budge (ceb5167@rit.edu) and Lydia Stong (lms6054@rit.edu)
The SHED has a lot of sun shining in due to all the windows and now the SHED is looking to build a green wall to absorb all this natural light to help green up the space.
Project Leader: Jillian Belleau (jvb6961@rit.edu) and Noura Mariam Dosso (nmd2002@rit.edu)
Parking lots generate many different types of automotive pollutants, namely gasoline, oil, antifreeze, heavy metals, nutrients, etc. RIT's parking lots are paved using traditional impermeable asphalt, which allows rainwater or melted snow to run off and dump pollutants directly into the creek. This pollution can have damaging effects on the water quality and ecology of the creek and surrounding environment. The Genesee River is largely polluted by urban Rochester and decades of industrial pollution, but we want to minimize the direct impact that our campus has on our community's local ecosystem. Currently awaiting approval from RIT.
The ESW community greenhouse was created in 2016 to raise awareness of sustainable alternatives to food production. Some repairs were needed to the outer covering, door and window.
