Faculty Mentor/s:
Jennifer Swann, Biological Sciences; Co-PIs: Leo Rooney, Promise Neighborhoods Lehigh Valley; Tinku Khanwalkar, City of Allentown Environmental Advisory Council
Students on the team:
Project Description:
Working with several Lehigh Valley partner organizations, including Promise Neighborhood of the Lehigh Valley’s Promise Corps (an AmeriCorps program), this project is piloting the use of solar kiln technology to convert felled urban wood, which would normally be shredded and mulched, into usable and artisanal products like park benches, tables, and bus stops. The Lehigh team is creating the system by which kilns can be appropriately sited, monitored, and used, and lead to products created. Community benefits include new and better gathering places in public spaces, potential income stream for those creating the products, and more involvement in the environmental life cycle of communities in the Lehigh Valley. All majors are welcome to apply.
Month/Year Project Began: