Date: March 21, 2024 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (EST) | Free In-Person Event Location: The McGill Faculty Club: 3450 McTavish Street
A TISED initiative, SEDTalks! is an educational and skill-building series for graduate students in the Faculty of Engineering whose research advances sustainability in the areas of engineering and design.
The SEDTalks! Event features TEDTalk-style presentations from three graduate students, our ChangeMakers, followed by a live Q&A.
Doors open at 5:00pm and the presentations are followed by a cocktail receptions.
2024 Changemakers:
Asia Vighi
Bioengineering, Ph.D. candidate
Supervisor: Prof. Codruta Ignea, Ph.D.
Rewiring Natural Networks: Precision Fermentation for Sustainable Drug Production
Tanshinone IIA (TIIA) is a specialized metabolite of the red sage plant that shows great promise in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, the compound is naturally produced in such low quantities that widespread use is not yet possible. Asia is engineering a platform for TIIA production by genetically rewiring yeast metabolic pathways. With a scalable TIIA-producing yeast strain, sustainable and affordable access to the compound could allow for widescale treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Faezeh Pazoki
Civil Engineering, Ph.D. candidate
Supervisor: Prof. Jinxia Liu, Ph.D.
Revealing the Power of Clay: A Sustainable Approach to Cleaning Forever Chemicals
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) also known as “Forever Chemicals” pose significant environmental and health risks due to their widespread presence and persistence. Drawing inspiration from ancient practices of natural resource utilization, Faezah’s study explores the innovative use of clay minerals in PFAS removal. The research explores how leveraging specific polymer-modified clays and iron-rich clays can capture and degrade PFAS contaminants in water and soil. The results highlight clay's pivotal role in addressing PFAS contamination, offering a promising pathway towards environmental restoration and long-term sustainability.
Anna Halepaska
Peter Guo-Hua Fu School of Architecture, Ph.D. candidate
Supervisor: Prof. Salmaan Craig, Ph.D.
Recovering heat and history: 19th century solutions to 21st century problems
For the last century, architects have increasingly relied on mechanical equipment to heat, cool, and ventilate our buildings. This approach demands more and more infrastructure to compensate for thermally-arbitrary buildings, generating substantial emissions during manufacture and maintenance. Anna's research investigates a 19th-century ventilation strategy that leverages the building’s spatial design for natural air flows and exhaust heat recovery. This work reveals how historical strategies could help us design sustainable solutions needed for a better tomorrow.