At IAT, our mission is to bring together university students from diverse disciplines with industry professionals, practitioners, and philanthropists to tackle critical challenges in a collaborative, hands-on environment. For our first Winter IAT series, we have 9 students from a range of majors working in teams to develop innovative, technically and economically viable solutions for the pressing issues around recycling and sustainability.
This blog post highlights the first of three sessions in this 3-week "Innovation Sprint," where students will identify, ideate, and improve solutions for the circular economy. Read on to meet the teams, learn about the problem statement, and hear a recap of the first session.
Introducing the Teams: Teams Red, Blue, and Green
This Winter IAT workshop consists of nine talented students– each of which receives a modest scholarship– all coming from diverse fields of study, including communication, engineering, finance, psychology, and biomedical sciences. The students are divided into three teams: Red, Green, and Blue, each consisting of 3 students. Over the next few weeks, each team will work together to brainstorm and refine their solutions to the recycling and sustainability problem. Stay tuned to future blog posts to learn more about the students' majors, their experiences in the program, and the creative solutions they develop.
In preparation for the upcoming session, students were assigned homework to review their problem statements and continue ideating solutions. This will set the stage for more in-depth discussions and refinement during the next session.
Recycling and Sustainability Problem Statement
The core challenge that the teams are tackling revolves around enhancing material selection and recycling considerations in product development for a circular economy — specifically for plastic products. As the world shifts towards a circular economy, product design and material selection are critical factors in ensuring that products are not only functional but also sustainable and recyclable.
Students are tasked with considering the circular economy model and developing solutions that address how materials can be selected to facilitate better recycling and reuse. In the upcoming sessions, the teams will refine their ideas and explore how to integrate their solutions into practical business plans. They'll also present their work to a judging panel at the end of the sprint, evaluated on how technically and economically viable their solutions are.
Meet the Mentors
We are fortunate to have three expert mentors guiding the students throughout this session, each bringing unique perspectives to the table:
Kevin Falk, Engineering Professor at BSU: With a deep understanding of engineering principles, Kevin will provide technical insights to help the teams refine their ideas.
Dr. Joela Jacobs, German Studies and Sustainability Professor at UA: Dr.Jacobs brings a wealth of knowledge on sustainability practices helping the students consider the broader environmental impact of their solutions.
Connor Reddington, Applications Engineer at Avid Product Development, a Lubrizol Company: With industry experience, Connor will advise the students on the practical applications of their ideas and how to make them feasible in the real world.
Recap of Session One
Session One kicked off on January 6th, 2025, with an energizing start. After a warm-up meet and greet, the students were introduced to their teams and the recycling and sustainability problem statement. They also participated in an introductory course to the workshop process, which provided them with the tools and methods needed to brainstorm and ideate effectively.
Here are some key takeaways from Session One:
Team Dynamics: Each team immediately began to establish its internal processes, discussing their different approaches to the problem and dividing tasks accordingly.
Brainstorming: Students used various ideation techniques to kick off the creative process, discussing potential solutions and exploring ideas ranging from innovative recycling technologies to sustainable packaging alternatives.
Mentor Engagement: The students also had the opportunity to meet with their mentors, where they asked questions and began refining their ideas. The mentors provided invaluable feedback and helped the students set goals for the next session.
It was inspiring to see the students dive deep into problem-solving, and we can’t wait to see how their ideas evolve in the coming weeks.
What’s Next?
In the second session, scheduled for Friday, January 13th, the students will begin to refine their solutions. They'll have the opportunity to present their ideas to the mentors and start crafting a more detailed business plan around their innovations. The focus will shift from ideation to improving and implementing the proposed solutions in a way that’s both technically sound and economically viable.
This session will be crucial in shaping their ideas as they prepare for the final presentation to our judging panel.
Impact on Society
As the world embraces the circular economy, the work of these students could contribute to reshaping how products are designed, made, and disposed of. By focusing on sustainability and recycling considerations during the product development phase, they are helping pave the way for a more sustainable future. The innovations and solutions they create could potentially have a lasting impact, demonstrating the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing global challenges.
Stay Tuned!
The first session of the Winter IAT workshop was an inspiring start to what promises to be an exciting and impactful series of innovation sprints. We look forward to watching the students develop their ideas, refine their solutions, and make meaningful contributions to recycling and sustainability. Stay tuned to see what’s next!
We’ll continue to provide updates throughout the three-week Innovation Sprint. In our upcoming blogs, we’ll dive deeper into the students' thought processes, showcase their progress, and share how their solutions evolve. In the meantime, don’t forget to follow along and share the journey with us!
Support Our Mission: If you’re passionate about sustainability and innovation, consider supporting our nonprofit by [donating, volunteering, etc.]. Every contribution helps us provide more opportunities for students to engage with real-world challenges.