T3 Series: Blockchain Use Case in Identity & Tracking

At a very basic level, blockchains are shared databases that store and
verify information in a cryptographically secure way. It is monitored
and organized by a peer-to-peer blockchain network, which also serves
as a secure ledger of transactions, e.g., buying, selling, and transferring.
One can think of a blockchain as a Google spreadsheet, except that
instead of being hosted on Google’s servers, blockchains are
maintained by a network of computers all over the world. These
computers (sometimes called miners or validators) are responsible for
storing their own copies of the database, adding and verifying new
entries, and securing the database against hackers.
A cryptocurrency is an encrypted data string that denotes a unit of
currency.

Crypto, as we know it today, has a significant environmental impact,
but it’s hard to measure exactly how significant. Many frequently cited
statistics come from industry groups, and it’s hard to find trustworthy,
independent data and analysis.

In these essays, Varsha Appaji, a 2021 SMU graduate, and a Research
Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco -and a former
student Research Analyst in the Hunt Institute- looks at the impact of
blockchain technology and its impact on major issues facing society
for better and for worse.

. . .

Self-sovereign identity refers to the direct control of your own personal information. Through blockchain’s use of cryptography, a pair of keys are created so that users can access their data on the blockchain. This pair is made of a public and a private key, making it possible to encrypt data in a way that only the individual with the private key can read it. This way, an individual can control just how much of and with whom their information is shared, while still keeping their ability to interact with others through the widely distributed public keys.

With blockchain, we can potentially enable self-sovereign identity and data integrity in a way that is immutable and verifiable, where personal data can be transparent but still individually controlled. Right now, digital personal data is so spread out through isolated data systems that it is impossible to track down every way in which our personal information is vulnerable to hacking or identity theft. Blockchain could give us control over our data again by forcing personal data security and accountability. 

Right now, in order to prove your identity, governments and businesses alike will often need, at the very least, your government-issued ID. To apply for a driver’s license in the United States, most states also require documentation of Social Security and two documents of proof of residency. Each additional hurdle makes the process more verifiable, but also more difficult and exclusive to already-vulnerable populations such as refugees or the homeless.

An example of this complicated identity process from Accenture is: 

“One perfect example of the complexities and sensitivities involved would be the birth of a child. Expectant parents have many interactions and touch points along their journey, from routine trips to the doctor to monitor the pregnancy, to hospital visits and prenatal services, all the way up to the birth itself and the subsequent creation of a brand-new identity for the baby.

In the traditional, siloed approach, there are new forms to fill out at every turn: when you register the child, when you apply for family benefits or when you sign up for daycare services. That data then vanishes into systems that are beyond your control. A solution capable of integrating all that data instantly and providing access on a case-by-case, need-to-know basis would provide benefits to parents, hospitals, government agencies, health insurance companies and daycare centers alike. And blockchain proved uniquely capable of providing such a solution.”

In order for blockchain identity management to work, governments will need to work together with businesses and individuals to ensure that users and giving informed consent to their personal, and even biometric, data being stored on the blockchain ledger. With their identity data on the blockchain, individuals would have much greater control over their personal information. We could be allowed to present the minimal documents or personal data in order for a business to identify us and verify that we are who we say we are, and this would allow for fewer direct threats to our digital identities.  

Present Barriers​ 

For now, though, this idea is still mostly out-of-reach as bureaucracies have little incentive to overhaul their technology and the public is still building their trust in the blockchain. Security issues still leave the system imperfectly defended from hackers. 

We also need to remember that blockchain is a system that allows strangers, basically, to reliably exchange real data.

According to Steve Wilson from Constellation Research, ”it’s simply illogical to think such a mechanism could have anything to offer identity… The public blockchains deliberately and proudly shirk third parties, but in most cases, your identity is nothing without a third party who vouches for you in some way. Blockchain is great for some things, but it’s not magic, and it just wasn’t designed for the IDM [identity management] problem space.”​ 

 “The trouble with this idea is that a universal ID poses risks to privacy and hence [could] encounter significant political opposition.”  -TechCrunch 

For a video overview of blockchain, watch “Blockchain Applications for Social Impact” here.

Written by Varsha Appaji ’21

Edited by Chris Kelley

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the Institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

T3 Series: Blockchain Use Case in Sustainable Energy

At a very basic level, blockchains are shared databases that store and
verify information in a cryptographically secure way. It is monitored
and organized by a peer-to-peer blockchain network, which also serves
as a secure ledger of transactions, e.g., buying, selling, and transferring.
One can think of a blockchain as a Google spreadsheet, except that
instead of being hosted on Google’s servers, blockchains are
maintained by a network of computers all over the world. These
computers (sometimes called miners or validators) are responsible for
storing their own copies of the database, adding and verifying new
entries, and securing the database against hackers.
A cryptocurrency is an encrypted data string that denotes a unit of
currency.

Crypto, as we know it today, has a significant environmental impact,
but it’s hard to measure exactly how significant. Many frequently cited
statistics come from industry groups, and it’s hard to find trustworthy,
independent data and analysis.

In these essays, Varsha Appaji, a 2021 SMU graduate, and a Research
Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco -and a former
student Research Analyst in the Hunt Institute- looks at the impact of
blockchain technology and its impact on major issues facing society
for better and for worse.

. . .

Blockchain has many potential use cases in the sustainable energy sector, particularly in electricity. With smart energy meters, blockchain and other emerging smart technologies could ensure real-time electricity tracking and avoid double counting. Electricity tracking via blockchain could mean rewards for generating renewable energy (ie. SolarCoin) and renewable energy certificates or carbon credits.

Peer-to-peer electricity trading is a major potential use case for blockchain in energy. The “Interbit” blockchain platform developed by Canadian BTL is the first intrinsically safe and self-guaranteed electronic energy trading system, allowing for a variety of transactions from small, community trading to large business interactions. Interbit is also accessible to developers since all of its applications can be written in JavaScript.

Energy microgrids are another major use case for blockchain, making up 23% of blockchain electricity initiatives in 2018. The Brooklyn Microgrid is an example of a community energy network of sustainable clean energy that generates, stores, and trades energy in the local community.

Cons 

  • The energy consumed by blockchain’s computational work is unsustainable
  • The energy consumption and carbon footprint of blockchain may outweigh its potential energy upsides

For a video overview of blockchain, watch “Blockchain Applications for Social Impact” here.

Written by Varsha Appaji ’21

Edited by Chris Kelley

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the Institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

T3 Series: Blockchain Use Case in Supply Chain

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At a very basic level, blockchains are shared databases that store and
verify information in a cryptographically secure way. It is monitored
and organized by a peer-to-peer blockchain network, which also serves
as a secure ledger of transactions, e.g., buying, selling, and transferring.
One can think of a blockchain as a Google spreadsheet, except that
instead of being hosted on Google’s servers, blockchains are
maintained by a network of computers all over the world. These
computers (sometimes called miners or validators) are responsible for
storing their own copies of the database, adding and verifying new
entries, and securing the database against hackers.
A cryptocurrency is an encrypted data string that denotes a unit of
currency.

Crypto, as we know it today, has a significant environmental impact,
but it’s hard to measure exactly how significant. Many frequently cited
statistics come from industry groups, and it’s hard to find trustworthy,
independent data and analysis.

In these essays, Varsha Appaji, a 2021 SMU graduate, and a Research
Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco -and a former
student Research Analyst in the Hunt Institute- looks at the impact of
blockchain technology and its impact on major issues facing society
for better and for worse.

. . .

Blockchain is already revolutionizing supply chain management with its characteristic ability to track huge amounts of data in real-time in a way that is transparent, verifiable, and immutable. Ultimately, this leads to a supply chain environment that is less vulnerable to corruption and cuts out many additional procurement, transportation, inventory, and quality costs.

With a more traceable and efficient network, blockchain could make data-informed logistics much more powerful since goods can be tracked from the source through the global distribution system. Logistics data could be maintained and updated between organizations with lower transaction costs. This could make ethical and environmentally responsible labor practices easier to enforce since even large businesses could be held accountable through the public blockchain. Additionally, insurance companies, banks and credit providers already have their eye on blockchain for financial capital flow management. To learn more about use cases for blockchain in supply chains, read IBM’s brief write-up here.

Blockchain is even being used to fight the blood diamond trade. 

Supply Chain for Nonprofits 

  • Blockchain could provide transparency and accountability in things like tracking donations
  • Blockchain’s token market could be used to fundraise. Organizations like SupPorter, Inc. are making “Blockchain Enabled Donation Processing Systems” for faster and more transparent donating
  • NGOs can implement blockchain in several ways, like making digital payments via tokens or making exchanges between service users and providers more frictionless ​

Cons 

  • Moving to a blockchain system would require a tech overhaul: to implement blockchain into their supply chain, organizations need to heavily invest in a brand new technology system so that every part of the system can support the software and computing capabilities necessary to communicate with the rest of the system
  • Just like the issues with storing identity data on the blockchain, any sensitive information remains susceptible to security breaches and hackers at this stage of blockchain’s evolution

For a video overview of blockchain, watch “Blockchain Applications for Social Impact” here.

Written by Varsha Appaji ’21

Edited by Chris Kelley

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the Institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

Jacquelyn Wong

Jacquelyn Wong

Jacquelyn Wong joins the Hunt Institute as a Graduate Program Manager in the spring of 2022. She is pursuing an M.A. in Sustainability and Development at SMU in the Lyle School of Engineering and is intending to graduate in May of 2023. Her role at the Hunt Institute will be managing the Evie project. Evie is a refurbished trailer that has captured the hearts of many watching her journey as researchers explore creative and alternative ways to produce food in an urban environment combat food deserts. Now, Evie goes into the community partnering with local community leaders. She will serve as a storefront for a community garden providing fresh produce in South Dallas. Jacquelyn will help manage this transition and the evolution of Evie from a mobile greenhouse into a stationary storefront.

Jacquelyn was first introduced to the Evie project while attending a class in the master’s program taught by Dr. Eva Csaky, Executive Director of the Hunt Institute.

In May of 2021, she obtained her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas. During her undergraduate years, Jacquelyn was involved with FOCUS at UTD (Fellowship of Christian University Students) and is continuing her involvement on campus as a core facilitator with FOCUS at SMU.

In her spare time, she enjoys photography, exploring the city, and spending time with friends. Upon completing her master’s degree, it is her goal to pursue a career as a sustainability specialist or planner within the built environment.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the Institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

Dr. Sukumaran Nair, Hunt Institute Fellow

Dr. Suku Nair joins the Hunt Institute as a Fellow bringing his expertise to the transformational technology work being done in the Institute. He is a Southern Methodist University Distinguished Professor and the founding director of the AT&T Center for Virtualization at SMU

Dr. Sukumaran Nair is a Southern Methodist University Distinguished Professor and the founding director of the AT&T Center for Virtualization at SMU. Along with these roles, he has a history of involvement across departments and programs. Namely, he is the founder of the Cyber Security program at SMU, and he was the Chair of the Computer Science and Engineering Department from 2008 until 2016.

Dr. Nair has joined the Hunt Institute as a Fellow, accompanied by his prowess in computer engineering and cyber security. At the SMU AT&T Center for Virtualization, researchers from across the University conduct interdisciplinary research to address technical, economic and social issues related to virtualization of all elements of the pervasive digital infrastructure.

When asked about his motivation to do impactful work, Dr. Nair responded, “We are excited to join hands with the Hunt Institute in empowering rural development through technology.”

His research interests include software-centric telecommunication networks, software-defined networks, virtualization technologies, trustworthy AI, and cyber security. He has published extensively in the area of high assurance computing and networking. His research has been supported through funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Security Agency (NSA), National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and various industry leaders including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, CAE, IBM, AT&T, and Google. Some of his recent awards include the Dallas 500 award and CIO/CTO award for Outstanding Tech Advocate from the D CEO magazine, SMU Ford Research Fellowship, IBM faculty award, and the Distinguished University Citizen award.

He received his B.S. from the University of Kerala, India in 1984, his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana in 1988 and 1990, respectively.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedInFacebookand Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

DeeDee Conway, Ed.D., Hunt Institute Fellow

DeeDee Conway, Ed.D., Hunt Institute Fellow

DeeDee Conway Ed.D. serves as an Associate Dean at the Lyle School of Engineering and Research Assistant Professor in the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education at Southern Methodist University. DeeDee joins The Hunt Institute team as a Fellow, accompanied by her valuable expertise in education.

Her research focuses on engineering education professional development and technical training as a means of understanding what institutions do to prepare students for not only positions in the industry but also positions in higher education, such as organizational and leadership development practices. This includes the analysis of cultural norms within an institution and opportunities for the reform of education to better suit the requirements of today’s industry and higher education institutions. Other research interests include creating a better understanding of culture in education, finding ways to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as understanding the needs of non-traditional learners.

DeeDee’s recent publications are grounded in identifying pathways to prosperity for underserved populations, adult learners, and organizational leadership/culture. DeeDee holds a BBA from American Public University and her M.Ed. in Education and Ed.D. in Higher Education from Southern Methodist University.

When asked what motivates her impact work, DeeDee said, “I want to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to advance and grow in whatever way they choose. I work to advocate and help those that have difficulty navigating through various systems, policies, and processes.”

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedInFacebookand Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

Kathy Jack, Ph.D., Hunt Institute Fellow

Kathy Jack The Dallas Healthy Cities Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas (TNC)

Katherine Jack, Ph.D., brings her expertise in environmental technologies, sustainable development, and community health and resilience to the Hunt Institute as a newly appointed Fellow. Since 2017, she has served as The Dallas Healthy Cities Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas (TNC), working with community partners to create a climate-resilient Dallas and to leverage the power of nature to benefit all residents. Dr. Jack also serves as Co-chair for the TNC Cities Network group to refine shared metrics for human and conservation well-being in the urban landscape.

Dr. Katherine Jack is an experienced Program Director and researcher, with more than twenty years working in both local government and non-profit sectors to advance community conservation, resilience, and sustainability. Her focus has always been at the intersection of people and nature. This includes the social dimensions of conservation and technological innovation, with expertise in renewable energy, emissions science, and nature-based strategies (NBS).

Notably, one of her recent research project publications is “Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Urban Flood Resilience: Opportunity Analysis for Dallas, TX”.  This research study was conducted by Dr. Jack and TNC team, as well as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, to assess the potential for GSI to enhance stormwater flood management in Dallas. Wherein, her team identified substantial cost-effective opportunities to deploy GSI for flood resilience and community benefits within the City of Dallas.

Her other key initiatives include advancing local air monitoring for improved public health outcomes, a collaborative effort of tree planting through Cool & Connected Oak Cliff, serving on the Stakeholder Advisory Committee to Dallas’ Environmental and Climate Action Plan, and on the Best Practices Advisory Committee for the Texas Tree Foundations’ Southwestern Medical District Streetscape Transformation project.

When asked what motivates her to do impact work, Dr. Jack said, “I am solutions driven! I am motivated by the urgency and complexity of the challenges we face at the intersection of society and the environment, and I am absolutely inspired by the richness of creating solutions with people across disciplines, experiences, and perspectives.”

Dr. Jack received her Bachelor of Arts in Environment and Society from Cornell University, a Master of Science in Environmental Resources Engineering, in the International Development Technologies Program at Humboldt State University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of North Texas.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedInFacebookand Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

Summer Internship Experience: Natalie Owings

Natalie Owings

My time at La Tarte Tropézienne was a reality check on my ambition and my degree. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy my time there, in fact, it was an amazing experience. Unlike a typically discussed experience, my internship was a path towards self-discovery.

To start, I was beyond excited to begin this summer work adventure. It was a perfect combination of two interests and degrees: French and marketing. Before an official introductory meeting with my boss, I had already brainstormed a social media facelift and marketing strategy. I wanted to apply my ideas immediately.

For the first month and a half, my work was praised and my eagerness to impress grew. I accepted multiple projects even though I didn’t have the time for them. Unfortunately, a health issue combined with work overload halted my progress. Compared to the beginning of my internship, my performance lacked the usual flare. At the time, I didn’t understand what was happening, but I had reached my limits.

I realized my desire to constantly impress caused burnout. I wasn’t meeting personal expectations, so I continued to stress myself. Initially, I loved my internship, but I soon began to fear it. I despised the reality I soon discovered; I didn’t want to do social media for a living. I would like to say I’m knowledgeable in the subject, but I do not have a passion for it. This new reality scared me because I thought I would have to change my major. I love doing creative projects, but that doesn’t mean social media is the only route in creative marketing. I have other options and my skills can be applied elsewhere.

I thought this internship would solidify my career choice, but I’m just entering the work world. Internships are trial runs. I’m young, and I have time to make mistakes and discoveries about myself. The road from an internship to one’s first job is never straight. The path has twists and turns, ups and downs, and tunnels where a sense of direction is unclear. I ingrained in my mind the idea that everyone has their life and career figured out at twenty-one. That’s not true. I wanted that easy path, but I honestly needed this journey to recognize what I truly want. La Tarte Tropézienne provided this introspection, and I’m incredibly thankful for the work opportunity and my newfound knowledge.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedInFacebookand Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

Alex Radunsky, Ph.D., Hunt Institute Fellow

Alex Radunsky, Ph.D. Hunt Institute Fellow

Alex Radunsky, Ph.D. joins the Hunt Institute as a Fellow, bringing his expertise in mixed-methods research in public health and health behaviors. Alex is an innovative research scientist and educator who uses complexity aware methods to disentangle health systems challenges, with a particular interest in how technological and scientific innovation can be leveraged for public good.

Dr. Radunsky is a Visiting Researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health at Heidelberg University, and he also serves as Director of Global Health and Policy at the Institute for Technology & Global Health. He received his BA in Political Science and his MPH in Epidemiology before earning his doctoral degree in Global Health and Population from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

When asked what motivates him about impact work he responded, “I use data and complex adaptive systems analysis to more deeply understand what we all need as human beings.”

He has conducted multi-sectoral evaluations of health, health behaviors and health service institutions in over a dozen countries while working at the Earth Institute at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania.  Alex has presented work to expert audiences at numerous international conferences.  This work uses qualitative and quantitative methods to focus on individual perception, institutional practices, community traditional practices, gender, marginalized populations, HIV, infectious disease, malnutrition, and more. His published research includes pieces on the quality of global health evaluations by aid agencies and child stunting reduction in sub-Saharan African countries.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedInFacebookand Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

Biodegradable Plastics Research – Where Engineering & Chemistry Intersect for Broader Impact

Where Engineering & Chemistry Intersect for Broader Impact

In the Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity’s Global Development Lab, our interdisciplinary teams made up of students, fellows, faculty, and industry professionals are working to create meaningful solutions to promote resilient humanity, all of which address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Where Engineering & Chemistry Intersect for Broader Impact report addresses biodegradable plastics where engineering and chemistry intersect.

Currently, many biodegradable products in the market are bio-based, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, and are focused on conventional plastic applications. This approach to the production of biodegradable plastics, however, is facing mounting challenges due to high cost, weaker performance, and environmental issues. Additionally, several biodegradable plastics have proven to break down quickly under specific, simulated environmental conditions, but they may not be effectively degradable under natural conditions. As a result of these challenges and many alike, there is a gap in the market.

As our Project Affiliates, Dr. David Son and Dr. Paul Krueger are investigating a prototype plastic that has predictable degradation and mechanical properties, in order to bridge this gap. In the spirit of interdisciplinary innovation, they seek to develop a joint chemical and engineering approach to biodegradable plastics for broader impact.

Dr. Son says, “As a chemist, I have the capability and knowledge to design a material from the molecular level up.  It’s a challenge to synthesize a material with the ‘right’ properties.  You can prepare a material cheaply, but it may not degrade.  Or you can make a material that degrades too quickly  or is not 3D-printable.  In today’s world, the plastics disposal problem is not going away anytime soon, and it is exciting that Professor Krueger and our labs can help make a difference.”

Dr. Krueger says, “Material properties are important for durability and functionality of engineered systems. But they are also important for what happens when you are finished using the system. Having materials that can fulfill their design role as well as existing materials and can also easily degrade to facilitate future disposal is extremely valuable, but difficult to achieve. It’s a pleasure working with Prof. Son to achieve this dream and help to reduce plastic waste.”

There are many uses for biodegradable plastics to address our current state of plastics pollution. One potential future application could be biodegradable plastic used in combination with 3-D printing technology specifically designed for use with the unique geometric properties of the biodegradable prototype plastic. Compatibility with 3D printing methods would help to facilitate biodegradable plastic’s replacement of other less desirable materials, especially given its rapidly growing adoption and application for manufacturing both prototype and production components. The lab is developing a 3D printing technology (extrude and cure additive manufacturing, or ECAM) that can simultaneously print and cure thermoset polymers such as those considered in this project.

Another significant opportunity for the biodegradable plastic industry is an application towards alleviating medical waste. Focusing on producing better-quality medical supplies and reducing the end-of-life waste associated with such products, this application works towards the third UN SDG “to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages,” as well as the fourteenth UN SDG, which aims “to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources”[1].

In order to address this challenge, our team of multidisciplinary students and subject matter experts has been working diligently to develop biodegradable plastic with more desirable characteristics and predictable degradation properties. Through this research, they hope to address medical waste and produce a product that could potentially be used in 3D printing. A portion of the report provides a market analysis of biodegradable plastics, a discussion of their applications, and updates from the lab’s progress in their research.

Both the Son and Krueger labs continue to research a biodegradable plastic that is comparable in function and cost to the industry standard while achieving alternatives to traditional disposal and decomposition. Continue to read the Hunt Institute Digest for more information about this project and others like it.

Undergraduate Project Managers: Sydney Lobato and Taylor Grace

Undergraduate Research Analyst: Katherine Nguyen

Undergraduate Lab Researchers: Son Lab: Anderson Wey and Jamie Hall; Krueger Lab: Sami Streb

Global Development Lab Portfolio Manager: Corrie A. Harris, M.A., MBA

Hunt Institute Affiliates: Dr. David Son and Dr. Paul Krueger

[1] Oceans – United Nations Sustainable Development. (n.d.). Retrieved 2020, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedInFacebookTwitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.