The Sustainability Institute (SI) is excited to announce the annual SI Student Sustainability Grant award recipients for 2025. This year, nearly $40,000 was awarded to ten student-led research and implementation projects that improve university operations, engage communities, and foster sustainability living labs on campus and in communities.
“The Sustainability Institute is excited to support students who are dedicating their time and talent to solving complex sustainability, economic, and equity issues,” said Gina Jaquet, SI Director of Sustainability Education and Learning. “This year’s grant program awarded a diverse variety of student proposals, including topics such as sustainable urban agriculture, active transportation, and rural clean water, among others. We are happy to provide Ohio State students with this opportunity to enhance their research and professional skills.”
Congratulations to this year's student grant recipients:
Sustainable Urban Farming: A Living Lab for Compost and Cover Crop Management in High and Low Tunnels
At the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, Horticulture and Crop Science Master’s student Amy Hurst is working on a study that explores sustainability challenges in urban agriculture in supporting soil health, crop productivity, and economic feasibility. Hurst and the research team will focus on the impacts of cover crops and compost application on soil and yields throughout various harvest seasons and crop rotations.
Where and What Are the Problems? AI-Assisted Walkability Inequity Analysis Using Street View Images and ChatGPT
By using Google Street View (GSV) and ChatGPT, City and Regional Planning PhD candidate Donghwan Ki is identifying the locations and causes of microscale walkability challenges in Columbus, Ohio. Ki and the research team will also study differences between minority and non-minority neighborhoods, aiming to help local government and urban planners create targeted and impactful plans to improve walkability in communities.
Gravity-Powered Solutions: Bridging Education and Global Water Access
Food, Agricultural, and Biological Master’s student Maggie Gottfried is addressing the lack of access to safe water in rural communities around the world by exploring gravity-powered water treatment plants. With support from Ohio State’s Impact Lab and other student researchers, this project connects non-profit organizations, community partners, and student-led research initiatives.
Advancing Sustainable Construction in Ohio: Reducing Cement Use and Improving Energy Efficiency in 3D Concrete Printing with Innovative Waste Glass and Sustainable Cement Binder
By using waste glass from glass recycling facilities in Ohio, Civil-Structural Engineering PhD candidate Pedram Ghassemi is working to improve the environmental impact of 3D concrete printing (3DCP), an already sustainable alternative to traditional construction. This research will assess the benefits of limiting the use of cement and sand in 3DCP systems to lower carbon emissions, reduce costs, and divert industrial waste.
SUSTAINS LLC Seating and Shading Project
Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability undergraduate student Lilah Conway aims to improve seating and shading on North campus to facilitate community-building and outdoor recreation. Conway will collaborate with the SUSTAINS Living-Learning Community (LLC) North Campus Container Garden and Pollinator Garden projects, which also received an SI Student Sustainability Grant last year.
Unheard Voices: A Participatory Action Research Pilot Project on the Perception of Residents of Multifamily Low-Income Rental Housing and Sustainability Awareness
To address environmental justice issues, City and Regional Planning Master’s student Mattie Grooms Phillips is analyzing green space availability, accessibility, and environmental challenges within low-income multifamily rental housing communities. The goal of this pilot project is to provide information that will improve access to green spaces, improve community welfare, and encourage sustainable urban development.
The Journey from Ice to Ocean: Who will Survive?
As climate change speeds up the melting of glaciers, freshwater microorganisms are displaced into the ocean. Biology undergraduate student Rylin Lofton is researching the survival and impact of these microorganisms in marine ecosystems.
Cultivating Wellbeing through Community Workshops in Columbus Urban Gardens
Medical professional student Olivia Shao is partnering with community gardens and urban wildlife researchers to teach communities about their local green spaces, biodiversity, and sustainable nutrition. These workshops aim to enhance the mental and physical health benefits of nature and address limited access to green spaces in urban areas.
Illuminating Disparities: The Impact of Solar Panel Adoption on Energy Pricing and Social Equity in Ohio’s Deregulated Market
Using satellite imagery, Civil Engineering PhD candidate Yufan Ji is studying household solar panels throughout Franklin County, Ohio. Ji plans to analyze the relationship between solar panel installations and residential electricity prices.
Harness The Economic Value of Ohio Corn Stover Using Microalgae
Molecular Genetics undergraduate student Tyler Fritz is researching how microalgae can use corn stover, an agricultural residue, to produce high-value products, like biofuels. Fritz‘s study focuses on the economic potential of using corn stover in Ohio as a beneficial feedstock.
Application details for the 2026 SI Student Grant program will be announced later during the 2025-2026 academic year. For more information, contact Gina Jaquet.
Story by Christine Andreeva, SI Student Communications Assistant