Faculty join forces with Finnish sustainability efforts

CMU faculty members Bob Dvorak, Itzel Marquez, and Maggie Williams were among 19 U.S. researchers selected to travel to Finland for a series of workshops and discussions with Finnish faculty members. Their trips were funded by the The Finnish-American Research & Innovation Accelerator (FARIA) and the Erasmus Project, with a goal to accelerate collaboration between Finland and the United States to address global challenges through sustainable practices.  

The CMU faculty learned how Finnish faculty members are engaging with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in their research, educational curriculum, and in practical applications to impact communities. The CMU faculty also had the opportunity to share how their work in the U.S. aligns with sustainability goals by presenting research posters to the group. Williams noted how well the Finnish Universities communicate with the public and how they prioritize research projects to best serve their people. 

Williams, an environmental engineer, was asked to visit companies that directly relate to her studies such as Wärtsilä, a power company that builds marine-based products like ship engines. Williams was excited to learn that the company is seeking cleaner energy sources for their engines, and they are expected to become carbon neutral in the coming years. 

After a 5-day training program with the entire group, each CMU faculty member spent a few more days visiting a different university that was matched to their research interest. Dvorak’s focus is wilderness and protected areas, and he has explored wildlife refuges in Alaska to improve sustainability in extreme environments near the Arctic Circle.  In contrast, Marquez’s focus is Engineering, and she investigated Finland’s water treatment systems. 

The faculty were very grateful for the opportunity that CMU, FARIA and the Erasmus project provided. They look forward to sharing what they learned in Finland with their students, and they hope to further collaborations with Finnish Universities to work on sustainability goals in the U.S.