Sustaining an interest in global goals
Monica Cooney
Dec 14, 2023
Identifying and developing sustainable materials is often at the forefront of the study of materials science & engineering (MSE). At Carnegie Mellon, MSE students have ample opportunities on campus to engage in organizations and initiatives focused on sustainability, and Aleena Siddiqui, a second year student with a dual major in MSE and Environmental & Sustainability Studies is taking advantage of her interest through several endeavors.
In her first year at CMU, she joined the University’s Green Practices Committee after sitting in on a presentation on campus waste streams. The committee brings together faculty, staff, and students to discuss and identify opportunities for campus environmental sustainability, as well as to share challenges and best practices amongst colleagues. Involvement in this initiative further fueled her interest and she sought additional avenues to contribute to campus efforts. Siddiqui then learned that the CMU Sustainability Initiative was seeking a communications intern and jumped at the opportunity.At local, community, and university levels, the work we’re doing can actually enact change.
Aleena Siddiqui, MSE Undergraduate Student
“I was interested in this opportunity because the Sustainability Initiative is focused on all facets of sustainability—environmental, economic, and social,” says Siddiqui. “Although my main interest is environmental, understanding how this aspect intersects with other forms of sustainability is crucial. I want the rest of the campus community to understand the importance of how their work contributes to sustainability.”
The Sustainability Initiative is led by director, Alex Hiniker, who sees student involvement as a vital component of the program’s development.
“Student engagement is central to the goals of the Sustainability Initiative, and students are best placed to drive those efforts,” says Hiniker. “Aleena is doing an incredible job of both communicating what we do and gathering feedback on how we can improve. Her thoughtful contributions have strengthened our overall program by ensuring that we center students, staff, and faculty alike.”
As Aleena has resumed her role with the Sustainability Initiative this academic year, she is striving to find new ways in which to engage the campus community and to share resources that allow others to think critically about how their work connects to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Earlier this year, she attended the SDG Summit in New York City, where she and other interns had the opportunity to hear from world leaders and to reflect on how what they learned could help them develop strategies that could be implemented on campus.
“When our team debriefed after the trip, it was clear that we have the opportunity to converse, collaborate, and most importantly, act as we shape CMU’s Sustainability Initiative,” said Siddiqui. “At local, community, and university levels, the work we’re doing can actually enact change and we must keep working to do just that.”
As Siddiqui continues to pursue her studies, the connection between the Sustainability Initiative and materials science has become even more evident, as she and many of her peers aim to integrate sustainability to their academic goals.
“As with many industries, we have a responsibility to act ethically and find effective solutions,” she notes. “We must be conscious about resource conservation, the environmental impact of material selection, working towards a circular economy, and so much more.”
Siddiqui has a much broader lens in part due to her experience, and is mindful that in tandem with environmentally-focused ideas comes social responsibility though considering labor conditions, impact on communities, and social equity when promoting responsible practices in materials science.