PROJECT I - CARBON OFFSETS AND ACCOUNTING

Mentored by Professor Bill Shobe

I’m a politics and economics double major! I'm the president of UVA Women’s Club Volleyball and a Meriwether Lewis Fellow. I am originally from Delaware, but went to high school in Northern Virginia. I have always been passionate about environmental preservation, and I am really excited to be working on this project!!

Hi everyone! My name is Holly Sims (she/her), and I'm a fourth year studying Environmental Science and starting the accelerated Master of Public Policy. I hope to combine these two to one day work on environmental justice policy. I'm from Tallahassee, FL and call myself a Tallahassee Lassie, though I like Virginia way more. My other UVA involvements are Housing and Residence Life and Student Council, as well as First Year Players. If anyone ever wants to play Mario Kart or go on a hike, let me know! I'm excited to be working with everyone.

PROJECTS II & III - BUILDINGS DECARBONIZATION AND ELECTRIFICATION ROADMAPS FOR UVA SCHOOLS

Mentored by Ethan Heil, with the Office for Sustainability, and Professor Lisa Colosi Peterson

My name is Alex and I'm double majoring in Global Environment and Sustainability and Economics. I was born in China but spent the past five years in southeast Virginia. My work in sustainability includes system modeling on traffic control patterns to make streets more sustainable. For the past year, building decarbonization has become one of the topics I'm really invested in. This fellowship provides me the perfect opportunity to research and learn more about building decarbonization.

I am a rising 4th-year undergraduate in pre-professional architecture, focused on researching design, history, and technology of green architecture. One of my main interests is Living Buildings and their role in the decarbonization of architecture and building performance. I’m also interested in their abilities to transform our ways of living into net-beneficial relationships with our natural environment. Although my architecture studies focus on designing and creating, this fellowship gives me the opportunity to retrofit UVA’s buildings for carbon neutrality, and I’m excited to explore this new lens of sustainable building operation.

I'm a second year M.S. student in the Computer Engineering department, originally from India. My current research focuses on sustainable Internet of Things technology and their applications. I have been a huge proponent of sustainability for almost a decade and a half and to finally be part of a team that is able to make an impact on a behemoth like UVA makes me very excited! I look forward to doing meaningful work that reinforces sustainability as a standard over the course of this program.

PROJECT IV - NATURE-BASED APPROACHES TO DECARBONIZATION

Mentored by Professor Tim Beatley

I’m a rising fourth-year urban and environmental planning major, minoring in global sustainability, and I'm from Lorton, Virginia. I love experiencing nature, usually by walking and admiring creeks or trees. I’m interested in becoming friends with every single tree (and some people) here at UVA. I'm very excited to bring nature to the table as a means of decarbonizing UVA.

I am a rising fourth year student from Northern Virginia majoring in pre-professional architecture with minors in global sustainability and architectural history. Outside of class, I enjoy hiking, paddleboarding, and reading. The relationship between urban and natural spaces has always been interesting to me. I am also curious to learn more about and become involved with nature-based solutions for sustainability initiatives. I'm excited for this opportunity to join and contribute to the University's goal of carbon neutrality.

I am pursuing dual master's degrees in Urban + Environmental Planning and Public Policy. Originally from Petersburg, VA, I worked at the U.N. Environment Programme in Washington, DC before returning to Charlottesville for graduate school. I am a huge fan of all things soccer as well as an avid rock climber, backpacker, and purveyor of chocolate chip cookies. I think this program is a great step in the right direction for the university and I am happy to help facilitate that step.

I am pursuing dual master's degrees in Urban + Environmental Planning and Public Policy. Originally from Petersburg, VA, I worked at the U.N. Environment Programme in Washington, DC before returning to Charlottesville for graduate school. I am a huge fan of all things soccer as well as an avid rock climber, backpacker, and purveyor of chocolate chip cookies. I think this program is a great step in the right direction for the university and I am happy to help facilitate that step.

 PROJECT V - DECARBONIZATION META-ANALYSIS

Mentored by Paul Zmick, with Facilities Management, and Professor Andres Clarens

I am a rising third-year, from Charlottesville, majoring in Engineering Science with a focus on Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences. As a lover of the outdoors and an avid gardener, I am looking forward to learning about practical solutions to decarbonize UVA. Combating climate change is a necessity, and I am excited to put my education to use. In my free time I enjoy hiking, walking my dog, and spending time with family and friends.

PROJECT VI - BUILDING AND PLANT SYSTEMS ENGAGEMENT ANALYSIS

Mentored by Paul Zmick, with Facilities Management, and Professor Lisa Colosi Peterson

My major is mechanical engineering and I'm going to be a second year during fall semester. I'm from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My interests are track and field/cross country, basketball, history, languages, CAD, and painting. I'm excited about working with other people who are interested like me in creating, building, and maintaining sustainable systems for the future.

I am a fifth year PhD candidate in Systems Engineering, hoping to graduate any day now. I got my M.E. in Systems Engineering while working full time for UVA. Before that, I was at Case Western Reserve University doing Chemical Engineering. You can call me a true C'ville local. I was born and raised here, educated in Albemarle County Public Schools. Some of my favorite activities are playing videogames, puzzles, and doing nail art. I am grateful for the opportunity to help my community through carbon mitigation efforts on campus.

PROJECT VII -GEOTHERMAL/GEO-EXCHANGE LAB

Mentored by Paul Zmick, with Facilities Management, and Professor Andres Clarens

I am a rising fourth year with a major in Civil Engineering and minors in Global Sustainability and Urban and Environmental Planning. I am from 30 minutes west of Charlottesville between Staunton and Waynesboro in a more rural community. My hobbies currently include reading, taking care of my plants, and cooking. Career-wise, I am very interested in sustainable systems design for different communities and how economic, environmental, and social injustices can be remedied through thoughtful design and implementation. I am excited for this program because it will help me develop my critical thinking skills, which will prepare me for larger project analyses and solution proposals.

PROJECT VIII - BUILDING OCCUPANT BEHAVIOR CHANGE

Mentored by Dana Schroeder, with the Office for Sustainability

I am a rising fourth year UVA student double majoring in Environmental Thought and Practice and English. I’m from Richmond, VA. I’ve always been passionate about the environment, but meteorology has been a fun interest and hobby for me since I was little. I enjoy spending time around the mountains here in Charlottesville, whether it’s hiking with friends or watching the sunrise or sunset at lookout areas. I love music, and I am in an a cappella group on Grounds. I’m very excited to dive into ways to effect meaningful behavioral and societal change when it comes to decarbonization, as well as getting to work alongside people who share a passion for the environment.