Dear CEE Community and Friends,

In this month’s newsletter, postdoc Damian Stefaniuk discusses new research to bolster concrete’s natural carbon sequestration potential. PhD student Elijah Martin’s photo weathering method provides a framework for designing degradable plastics. Postdoc Miaomiao Zhang highlights the importance of graphics in research writing, and Prof. Elfatih Eltahir explains the source of extreme heat in the Mediterranean to German newspaper, Die Zeit. We congratulate Prof. Lydia Bourouiba on receiving the 2023 Paul Gray Award for Public Service, postdoc Hannah Lu on receiving the Best Presentation Award at the U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics, and Prof. Heidi Nepf on receiving the M. Selim Yalin Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.

Also in this newsletter, we share new research on an energy-storing supercapacitor made from ancient materials developed by a team of researchers including Professors Admir Masic and Franz-Josef Ulm. Lastly, we highlight graduate student Kristen Riedinger, whose research focuses on the contamination of drinking water with harmful organic compounds.

Sincerely,

Ali Jadbabaie

JR East Professor

Department Head, MIT Civil and Environmental Engineering

Core Faculty, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

Postdoc Damian Stefaniuk provides an overview of carbonation in cement-based products, a brief explanation of why understanding carbonation in the life cycle of cement products is key for assessing their environmental impact, and an update on current research to bolster the process.

Aligning the "Useful" and Environmental Lifetime of Plastics

PhD student and MIT Morningside Academy for Design fellow Elijah Martin created a photo weathering method that accelerates plastic degradation research. His research could provide a framework for designing plastics that degrade effectively.

Why are graphics taken for granted in research writing?

Postdoc Miaomiao Zhang discusses the importance of communicating effectively, especially through graphics, when writing a research paper.

Why the Mediterranean is a hotspot for climate change

Prof. Elfatih Eltahir and Alexandre Tuel explain the source of the extreme heat waves occurring in the Mediterranean region in German newspaper, Die Zeit. They identify two main factors contributing to the phenomenon: the unique geography of the area and a shift in the upper troposphere that leads to increased pressure and less

Prof. Lydia Bourouiba receives 2023 Paul Gray Award for Service

Prof. Lydia Bouriouba is the faculty recipient of the 2023 Paul Gray Award for Public Service. Her research and expertise played a vital role in informing infectious disease policy during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Hannah Lu receives Best Presentation Award at USNCCM17

CEE postdoc Hannah Lu received the Best Presentation Award for Female Researchers in the postdoc category at the 17th U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics (USNCCM17). USNCCM17 showcases the latest research in the field of computational mechanics, bringing together top researchers and practitioners in academia, government, and industry from around the world.

Prof. Heidi Nepf receives M. Selim Yalin Lifetime Achievement Award

Prof. Heidi Nepf is the recipient of the M. Selim Yalin Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research for her outstanding career in environmental fluid mechanics and contributions to the field of hydrodynamics of vegetated flows and her dedication to the delivery of her knowledge through teaching and education.

A team of researchers including CEE professors Franz-Josef Ulm and Admir Masic have developed an energy-storing supercapacitor that could form the basis for a novel low-cost energy storage system. The study, published in PNAS, describes the new technology made of cement, carbon black, and water. The device could facilitate the widespread use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and tidal power by allowing energy networks to remain stable despite fluctuations in renewable energy supply.

Kristen Riedinger: Graduate Spotlight

August is National Water Quality Month, serving as a reminder to protect and make the most of the freshwater sources we have. Clean water is vital to our individual health, our collective agricultural needs, and the needs of our environment. This month, CEE highlights graduate student Kristen Riedinger, who is the co-president of the MIT Water Club.

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