asanta@smu.edu
Senior Design Team Leader
- Mechanical Engineering & Mathematics Major
- Engaged Learning Fellow 2017-2018
- Lyle Research Fellow 2017 Summer
- Full Athletic Scholarhip
- Athletic Director’s Honor Roll
- Varsity Letter Winner
- All Conference Honor – American Athletic Conference
- Best Newcomer Award – Women’s Swimming and Diving (2014-2015)
“My parents have always encouraged me to help people in need. The Hunt Institute gives me the opportunity to work on problems which could help people, who does not have enough resources or knowledge, to find solutions to their problems which affects their everyday life. I am also very passionate about the field of renewable energies, which is an environmentally friendly way to produce energy. They have a great potential to replace other non-renewable energy sources in the future.”
Adrienn Santa is a senior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. Her studies in engineering have prompted interest in energy generation, because of this she is considering pursuing a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy.
Adrienn was working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant with the Hunt Institute and as a Lyle Research Fellow over the summer which helped her realize the importance of development of urban farming and gardening. Her future goals are to be able to design sustainable solutions for low-income communities and people who do not have access to fresh heathy food.
One potential solution would be to use the vacant lots and buildings for food production. An innovative low-cost heating and cooling system, efficient irrigation system, and vertical gardening would also make urban farming more accessible for communities in need.
Adrienn grew up in a very sustainable family in Hungary, where everything is homemade and all vegetables and fruits are grown in her grandparents’ garden. This also motivates her to help other people who do not have access to these resources. The reason Adrienn likes working at the Hunt Institute is because it gives her the opportunity to utilize her passion towards creating these solutions.
Adrienn’s favorite free time activity, swimming, took her overseas as she was granted with a full athletic scholarship at SMU in 2014. Other interests of hers include traveling to different places, countries and getting to know other cultures, as well as participating in different extreme sports.
Contributors to this post:
Written by: Kim Strelke
Edited by: Adrienn Santa & Maggie Inhofe
Photo by: Alissa Llort
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