A Sustainable Summer of Research
Harrison Hinojosa spent his summer participating in the inaugural PSEG Undergraduate Research Scholars for Environmental Justice
Many summer activities revolve around water — taking a dip in the pool, jumping in the lake or hanging out at the beach. Harrison Hinojosa’s summer revolved around water, too. Water pressure, that is.
Hinojosa, a 4/5 environmental engineering major and green engineering minor, participated in the inaugural PSEG Undergraduate Research Scholars for Environmental Justice, where he contributed to original research with real-world impact. Administered by the Stevens Center for Sustainability and funded by the PSEG Foundation, the program accommodated seven students — three from Stevens and one each from Yale, Georgetown, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Ramapo College — who were mentored by faculty from Stevens, NJIT and Ramapo.
Under the direction of Stevens’ Dr. Chang Hwan Choi, Hinojosa’s research project proposes the use of turbines as water pressure reducers. If, for instance, a building has high water pressure that needs to be reduced to make a sink or shower usable, these micro turbines step in to take the place of a traditional pressure reducing valve. The technology is innovative because it both reduces pressure and generates power.
This sort of research project has been particularly exciting for Hinojosa who first became interested in the intersections of sustainable engineering and business optimization in his Introduction to Sustainable Engineering course. “When I came across this environmental research opportunity, I applied right away,” says Hinojosa. “I've expanded my knowledge and learned new skills that will contribute to my work down the road.”
