GCI-Climate

Unlocking value from silicon-rich waste with help from biology

tdonnel — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:20:34 +0000

Unlocking value from silicon-rich waste with help from biology tdonnel Mon, 10/05/2026 - 13:20

Mine tailings and other silicon-rich wastes may look like materials with little value left. But locked within their tough mineral structures can be valuable elements and resources that are difficult—and often energy-intensive—to recover.

Mine tailings, one of the silicon-rich waste streams being considered in the project. Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, Public Domain.

As part of a newly funded National Science Foundation collaborative research project, 911�� researchers are exploring whether nature can offer a different way to unlock those resources.

“Many of these materials still contain valuable resources, but they are locked inside very stable silicate structures,” said Xijin (Emma) Zhang, an assistant professor in 911��’s Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering. "We would like to explore alternative and sustainable ways to break down these materials and recover what is valuable from them."

Silicon is the second most abundant element in Earth’s crust and is a major component of minerals in rocks, mine tailings, concrete, and many industrial materials. Yet breaking down these stable silicate structures can require high temperatures, substantial energy, or highly corrosive chemicals. Zhang and her collaborators are investigating whether biological processes can accomplish some of these transformations under much milder conditions.

Xijin (Emma) Zhang. Photo provided.

The effort brings together researchers from five institutions, including 911��, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the University of Maryland, the University of California San Diego, and University of Massachusetts Amherst. By combining expertise in engineering, biology, geochemistry, and materials science, the researchers hope not only to develop new approaches for processing silicon-rich materials, but also to establish a new interdisciplinary field they call “Si-X TechnoBioGeoChemistry.”

At 911��, Zhang is working with Monique Van Hoek, a professor in the School of Systems Biology in the College of Science, to explore how microorganisms and the molecules they produce interact with silicate minerals. The collaboration brings together biological and engineering perspectives to better understand how natural processes can be harnessed to transform materials that are otherwise difficult to break down.

Monique Van Hoek. Photo: Creative Services, Office of University Branding.

The project builds on Zhang’s years of research in biomineralization. After studying calcium-based biomineralization during her PhD work, Zhang expanded her work to silicon-rich materials while continuing to explore how biological systems can reshape materials in sustainable ways.

The researchers are especially interested in waste streams such as mining residues, demolished concrete, and industrial byproducts. Rather than viewing these materials simply as waste to be managed, the team sees them as potential resources. According to Zhang, these materials often contain valuable elements trapped within strong silicate matrices, while the silicon-rich material itself may also have potential for reuse.

"We can turn these waste resources into useful material, and that can first create new value, and second, reduce some waste and reduce some management cost associated with the waste," she said.

Zhang's lab is developing bio-enabled methods to break down and transform silicate materials under mild conditions. They are investigating how microorganisms, biological molecules, and other nature-inspired processes can replace or complement conventional approaches that rely on extreme temperatures and harsh chemicals.

"We're focusing on how to use sustainable and bio-enabled pathways to break these waste materials down in a low-energy and low carbon–emission way,” Zhang said. “At the same time, we want to understand how we can release valuable components and make the remaining materials useful again."

Silica-based skeletons in glass sponges. Photo: Randolph Femmer/USGS, Public Domain.

The approach could open new pathways for using resources recovered from silicon-rich waste. Silicon-containing materials produced through these processes could potentially be reused in a wide range of applications, including new cement and concrete materials, glass products, electronic technologies, while valuable elements released from the silicate matrix could contribute to the recovery of critical minerals. During the initial two-year phase, researchers will investigate the fundamental biological, chemical, and geological processes that control these transformations and evaluate the feasibility of the overall approach. Those findings will help the team identify the most promising directions for future development.

Beyond the scientific advances, the initiative will provide interdisciplinary training opportunities for graduate students and researchers working across traditional disciplinary boundaries. By bringing together biology, geology, and engineering, Zhang and her collaborators aim to rethink how society extracts value from secondary resources and how materials now considered waste might become resources for the next generation of technologies.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of building a more climate-resilient society.

Department of Civil Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE)

911�� is one of the first 14 institutions to receive Carnegie's new classification for sustainability. Read More >>

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Emma (Xijin) Zhang

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School of Systems Biology

Systems Biology

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College of Science

From conservation to clean energy, summer programming helps students learn to build climate-resilient societies

sholla4 — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:24:40 +0000

From conservation to clean energy, summer programming helps students learn to build climate-resilient societies sholla4 Thu, 09/24/2026 - 10:24

From solving climate challenges through research to preparing the next climate leaders, 911�� is applying science, policy, and innovation to safeguard communities and ecosystems. And that commitment includes developing leadership and talent to produce solutions for our global community.

These interdisciplinary summer programs are helping the next generation of conservationists, environmentalists, and sustainability experts develop the critical skills needed to help build a climate-resilient society and a more resilient future.

Participant explores a nuclear reactor through virtual reality at the 2026 Constellation Small Modular Reactor Summer Academy. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

In Front Royal, Virginia, the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) opened its doors over the summer for high school students to gain college credit while exploring conservation through different but complementary perspectives: CONS 100 Introduction to Field Conservation Ecology and CONS 110 Natural History Illustration.

Students in CONS 100 participated in field investigations, testing research questions in a guided pilot study. In CONS 110, an online course, students learned to accurately observe and document the natural world through scientific illustration, with sketching practice, anatomical study, and lessons in different artistic mediums. Through both courses, students engaged in immersive, hands-on learning experiences that emphasize scientific inquiry, conservation, and observation.

“Whether they’re collecting field data or illustrating flora and fauna, we want the students to realize that observation is a powerful scientific skill,” said Robert Barrett, assistant director of recruitment and outreach for SMSC. “If they remember that conservation begins with paying close attention and that they have the ability to contribute through critical thinking and creativity, then they’ll carry something valuable with them long after the course ends.”

Together, these programs prepare the next generation of conservation leaders by teaching them the power of combining arts and sciences in observation, documentation, communication, and research to help communities adapt to environmental change and protect biodiversity. “By empowering students to translate observation into action, these courses contribute to the university's goal of building a more sustainable and climate-resilient society,” said Barrett.

Constellation Small Modular Reactor Summer Academy

Moving east from the mountains to Arlington, the inaugural Constellation Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Summer Academy at Fuse at Mason Square tackled questions of climate resilience through sustainable energy.

“The academy directly explores the challenge of providing reliable, resilient, and low-carbon electricity as demand continues to grow,” explained Liling Huang. During the week-long program, students participated in hands-on activities involving the NuScale SMR simulator at 911��’s E2 Center, built Lego-based SMR applications, and took virtual reality tours of a nuclear power plant and renewable energy facilities. The camp concluded with a poster presentation competition attended by industry professionals.

“We want students to see the breadth of educational and career opportunities available in the energy industry,” said Huang.

By exploring potential solutions to the challenges of providing reliable, resilient, and low-carbon electricity, students began to develop the necessary skills to create a more resilient energy future.

“They can be a part of solving some of the most important energy challenges facing society,” said Huang. “They do not have to wait until they graduate from college to start thinking creatively, conducting research, and contributing ideas.”

Washington Youth Summit on the Environment

Across the Potomac River, the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE) immersed students in the world of environmental conservation and sustainability. Over the course of one week, rising juniors and seniors in high school explored careers and developed the skillsets required to create actionable solutions, foster resilient communities, and ensure a sustainable future.

Led by faculty with expertise in environmental science, conservation, policy, law, and engineering, the youth delegates met with states’ U.S. Congressional Representatives and Senators; explored national and state parks, caverns, and waterways; toured the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute; and heard from industry professionals such as conservation photographers, environmental project managers, animal keepers, marine biologists, and many more.

A tentpole of the youth delegate experience was roleplaying exercises, such as an intensive problem-solving water quality simulation. These sessions allow students to apply what they’ve learned to real-world problems and develop solutions.

“These high school students learn tangible skills and connect on a human level, with a goal of being impactful, empowered, and trustworthy citizens at home and abroad,” said Dawn Aponte.

Constellation Small Modular Reactor Summer Academy at Fuse in Mason Square campus. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

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911�� is one of the first 14 institutions to receive Carnegie's new classification for sustainability. Read More >>

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of building a more climate-resilient society.

In This Story

Liling Huang

The little water treatment plant that could

tdonnel — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:51:24 +0000

The little water treatment plant that could tdonnel Thu, 07/30/2026 - 12:51

On a small organic farm in rural Puerto Rico sits a revolutionary water treatment facility ready for action: the AguaClara PF250, a compact, nonelectric drinking water treatment plant designed specifically for small communities. 911�� researchers Daniel Smith and Catherine Akplah are combining engineering innovation, field research, and community partnership to participate in piloting the facility and assess its viability throughout the island nation.

While most Puerto Ricans receive water from the territorial utility system, 100,000 in rural areas rely on small, community-managed water systems that often struggle with aging infrastructure, limited resources, and vulnerability to hurricanes and power outages.

Unlike conventional treatment facilities, the PF250 operates using hydraulic principles and gravity, entirely without electricity. The system uses the same fundamental processes found in large municipal plants, including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorination, but in a smaller, prefabricated design that can be installed in remote locations. The PF250 was designed and fabricated by the nonprofits AguaClara Reach and Agua Para el Pueblo.

AguaClara PF250 water treatment facility at Plenitud PR. Photo provided.

Smith, an assistant professor in 911��’s Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, has spent much of his career working on drinking water treatment systems around the world. His connection to PF250s stretches back nearly two decades through the AguaClara program in Honduras.

“It will be very fulfilling to see something that was a concept 15 or more years ago become a practical solution for communities that need it,” he said. “It's a drinking-water treatment plant that has all of the processes you typically find for big town but, with clever engineering, made as small as possible and able to work without any electricity.”

The 911�� team is partnering with VersaWater, a National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator initiative that includes Cornell University, Syracuse University, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, and AguaClara Reach. VersaWater focuses on technology development and deployment, and 911��’s role is to help understand how the PF250 performs with respect to organic matter removal and determine where in Puerto Rico it is most likely to succeed.

Smith and Akplah are working directly with community water boards across Puerto Rico, equipping communities with turbidity meters that measure how cloudy local water supplies become throughout the year. This data will help identify systems where advanced treatment is most needed.

Akplah (left) and Smith (R) in Puerto Rico. Photo provided.

“It's the very first thing you need to know to decide which treatment option is going to be a potentially good fit,” said Smith.

Akplah, a PhD student in Smith's lab whose research focuses on sustainable water treatment, sees the project as an opportunity to create tangible benefits for communities.

“A win for me would be to see one community where we're able to transition this system into something that people can rely on to get drinking water” she said.

The team will operate a pilot PF250 installation at Plenitud PR, an organic permaculture farm in Las Marías, Puerto Rico, to study how well it removes organic matter and controls disinfection byproducts, an important step toward meeting U.S. drinking water regulations. Ultimately, they hope their work will provide communities with data they can use to secure infrastructure funding and improve public health.

If successful, the PF250 could provide a model not only for rural Puerto Rico but also for small, underserved communities across the United States that face similar drinking water challenges.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of building a more climate-resilient society.

environmental engineering

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Daniel W. Smith

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This course turns climate science into real-world impact for Virginia communities

ckearney — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:32:10 +0000

This course turns climate science into real-world impact for Virginia communities ckearney Tue, 07/21/2026 - 16:32

What difference does a tree make? That’s what 911�� researcher Luis Ortiz wanted to find out—before it was planted. Cities increasingly experience extreme heat that poses danger to anyone outside. The urban environment, even on a very small scale, can either help alleviate the problem or make it vastly worse.

Professor Luis Ortiz with his Micrometeorological Modeling class. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“We teach students the fundamentals of how the broader weather interacts with very, very local aspects of the built environment,” said Ortiz, who teaches in 911��’s J. Shukla Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences. “By very, very local, I mean, what happens if I put a certain tree in one location, or if I apply a coating to a building’s surface to reflect the sun.”

Ortiz’s course, CLIM 759 Micrometeorological Modeling for Local Climate Action, targets “hyperlocal” community needs. It’s a way of taking research out of the lab and into the real world where it can have immediate impact. Ortiz and other professors—in collaboration with 911��’s Institute for a Sustainable Earth—piloted a model to create classes that work almost like nonprofit start-ups with municipalities and neighborhood groups as clients.

“We are meeting communities where they are and figuring out what their needs are related to weather hazards on heat, flooding, and air pollution. This is all based on the extensive community engagement that we've been doing with the Virginia Climate Center,” said Ortiz, who is the codirector of the VCC.

This is the second year that Ortiz is offering the graduate-level class, which is open to every major. The students work individually with community groups to study their needs and model the outcomes of various interventions. Last year, students worked with South Side ReLeaf in Richmond to model extreme heat zones around schools and shopping centers. This year, they ran individual projects with the cities of Fairfax, Alexandria, and Arlington, as well as Groundwork USA. These stakeholders were all invited to a day of final presentations at the end of the semester.

“The students are learning urban microclimate physics, as well as the software and models needed to understand them and answer real-world questions,” said Ortiz.

The course is truly interdisciplinary, attracting students majoring in fields from across the university, including GIS, civil engineering, mathematics, and fluid dynamics. They use social science methods to determine the communities’ needs.

Ivy Stempkovski, a climate dynamics PhD student who helped develop the course and is now taking it, created models to evaluate how public water features, such as splash parks, help kids cool down.

“My peers are thinking of things that never would have crossed my radar,” said Stempkovski. “That’s important because the whole goal is to make sure that we're maximizing impact for our community partner and the community themselves. If it weren't for the different perspectives, I think we could risk falling short. For instance, the engineers take a more practical perspective, and the GIS students know more about zoning laws.”

Gavin Middleton, a PhD student in earth and geoinformation sciences, took the course in its first year. His models revealed startling facts about how a lack of green spaces increased citizens’ susceptibility to heat stroke.

“The area I was looking at was an elementary school,” said Middleton. “This school was right next to a six-lane road that had no trees. We found that if kids were walking down that road in the middle of the summer heat, there was about a 5 percent chance that you got a heat stroke on any one kid.”

Other projects showed high risks of heat stroke and asthma attacks around unshaded shopping complexes with large parking lots, as well as bus stops where people would have to wait for long periods with no relief.

“I would say that it was a very important experience to actually get to know the people that my science affected,” said Middleton. “It's definitely not something you see at every university.”

Ortiz built the course as part of his work at the VCC and based it on the lean start-up model for businesses.

"Our students are both learning state-of-the-art modeling techniques and using them to answer important questions for stakeholders in the commonwealth and beyond,” he said. “With this model, students work on real-world problems, and our partners get access to science-backed data and insights to help them build stronger, more resilient communities.”

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of building a more climate-resilient society.

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Virginia Climate Center

911�� authorized to host State Climate Office

ckearney — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:40:01 +0000

911�� authorized to host State Climate Office ckearney Wed, 07/08/2026 - 15:40

911�� is authorized to host the Virginia State Climate Office, thanks to a provision in the new state budget effective July 1, 2026. The office is charged with developing and delivering data, analyses, assessments, and expertise about Virginia’s weather- and climate-related impacts, risks, and risk management options to state and local government agencies, businesses, and communities across the commonwealth. The office will also represent Virginia in national meteorological, climatological, and hydrological associations, strengthening federal partnerships and interstate collaboration on real-time weather and environmental challenges.

James Kinter. Photo provided

911�� is home to one of the largest communities of faculty in the country who are dedicated to climate research. The new office will be anchored in the university’s Virginia Climate Center (VCC), based in the College of Science and directed by James Kinter, professor of climate dynamics, who also leads the university's Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies.

“Every Virginian deserves access to reliable, localized climate information, whether they’re a farmer on the Eastern Shore, an emergency manager in Southwest Virginia, or a family deciding where to buy a home. The State Climate Office makes that possible,” said Kinter. “911�� is the ideal home for this work. We’ve spent the past three years building the scientific capacity, the community partnerships, and the trust across the commonwealth that a state climate office needs from day one.”

VCC launched in 2023 with funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a congressionally directed project championed by the late U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly. Since then, the center has built exactly the kind of university-based, community-engaged model a state climate office requires with scientists, municipalities, and business leaders working together on practical solutions.

In November 2025, VCC delivered the inaugural Virginia Climate Assessment, the commonwealth's first comprehensive, peer-reviewed evaluation of how changing climate conditions affect Virginia and its people. The assessment, which organized findings across six climate divisions from Tidewater to the Southwestern Mountains, called directly for the creation of a state climate office. Less than a year later, the General Assembly answered.

“Virginia was one of only two states in the nation without an operational state climate office. That gap left localities, farmers, and businesses without a central, no-cost source of climate information that most other states take for granted,” said Delegate David Reid of Loudoun County, who sponsored the budget amendment in the House establishing the State Climate Office at 911��. “Hosting this office at 911�� puts proven scientists to work for every corner of the commonwealth, and we are committed to collaborating to ensure improved strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and avoided losses.”

Graduate students in CEIE 445/645 Flood Hazard Engineering and Adaptation course develop flood risk maps and conduct analyses to help real clients in local communities improve their flood resilience. Photo provided

The Virginia Climate Assessment identified three hazards of particular concern for the commonwealth this century: extreme heat and rising temperatures, which threaten public health, labor productivity, and agriculture; extreme precipitation and shifting seasons, with wetter falls and springs increasing flood risks while drier summers heighten drought and wildfire danger; and accelerated sea level rise, compounded by land subsidence, which puts Tidewater communities and coastal infrastructure at growing risk.

“The office will ensure that Virginia has a seat at the national table to collaborate with groups like American Association of State Climatologists and play a vital role working with localities to ensure a brighter future for the next generation of families across the commonwealth and the nation,” added Senator Stella Pekarsky, a 911�� alumna who shepherded the budget amendment.

VCC already partners with localities across the commonwealth, and the State Climate Office will extend that reach. Current projects include flood modeling for the City of Fairfax, urban flood resilience work in Arlington County, nature-based flood protection in Belle Haven on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, climate planning in the West Piedmont region, and a Northern Virginia heat data collection campaign launching this summer. 911�� student engineers are also supporting flood hazard mitigation projects, gaining hands-on experience while serving Virginia communities.

“Weather patterns impact key sectors of the Virginia economy,” said Terry Clower, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at 911��’s Schar School of Policy and Government. “Consistent, dependable, and localized weather data will give Virginia farmers, businesses, and government entities the ability to better compete and succeed.”

The university’s strength in climate resilience is part of 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative, which draws on expertise across the university, including the Institute for a Sustainable Earth; the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences; the Center for Climate Change Communication in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; and the Schar School's Center for Regional Analysis.

“Building a climate-resilient society is one of six research priorities in 911��’s Grand Challenge Initiative, and it’s one where our faculty are collaborating across colleges to deliver solutions communities can actually use,” said Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. “The State Climate Office turns that research strength into a public service for all Virginians. This is what a public R1 university is for.”

For more information, visit gmu.edu/grandchallenge or vaclimate.gmu.edu.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of building a more climate-resilient society.

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911�� launches new Center for Satellite and Earth Science Research

Katarina Benson — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:34:41 +0000

911�� launches new Center for Satellite and Earth Science Research Katarina Benson Tue, 06/23/2026 - 17:34

At a recent gathering of air quality researchers from across the Washington, D.C., region and beyond, 911�� officially launched a new center that aims to advance Earth system science in atmospheric composition and air quality.

The Center for Satellite and Earth Science Research (CSER), based in 911��’s College of Science, will focus on delivering data-driven insights to support environmental resilience, improve public health outcomes, and inform decision-making at local, national, and global levels.

Daniel Tong, director of CESR. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“We are excited to establish a platform for researchers to work together,” said center director Daniel Tong, a professor in the J. Shukla Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences. “By using the latest technology, including Earth system models, satellites, and artificial intelligence (AI), we can design and deploy better early warning systems for extreme weather events. Each year, thousands of people are killed by dust storms or wildfires. CSER is here to save these lives.”

In addition to Tong, the center’s leadership team includes Patrick Campbell, associate director for business development; Bok-Haeng “BH” Baek, associate director for research; Zafer Boybeyi, associate director for education; and Youhua Tang, chief scientist. Together, they will guide the center’s efforts to improve remote sensing, air quality modeling, and scientific workforce development.

“What’s most exciting is CSER’s potential to bridge research and real-world impact while training the next generation of scientists to work across disciplines and scales,” said Campbell.

The fourth annual Air Quality Research and Development Consortium (AIRDC) Workshop underscored the importance of collaboration across institutions and disciplines in tackling air quality challenges. The one-day event brought together scientists, modelers, and policy-focused experts to share emerging research and strengthen collaboration around some of the most urgent challenges in air quality and Earth system sciences.

As new technologies and analytical tools continue to evolve, researchers emphasized that partnerships like AIRDC and endeavors such as CSER will play a vital role in translating scientific advances into actionable solutions, which directly connects to university research efforts through the Grand Challenge Initiative and building a climate-resilient society.

“The greater Washington, D.C., area is like the Silicon Valley for atmospheric science,” Tong said. “We have thousands of scientists working on this topic in federal labs, universities, and industry.”

The Center for Satellite and Earth Science Research team. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Throughout the day, researchers from such institutions as Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University, University of Maryland, Howard University, American University, and University of Maryland Baltimore County shared new approaches to understanding air pollution sources, behavior, and impacts.

Collaborators from the Maryland Department of the Environment, DC Department of Energy and Environment, NOAA, DOE, and NASA also attended.

According to Campbell, what stood out the most was the strong integration of satellite observations, advanced monitoring and modeling, and AI-enabled data fusion. These technological improvements reflect both the field’s challenges and how rapidly it is moving toward unified, data-driven approaches.

“Collaborations like this one are so important because air quality challenges span climate, health, and environmental justice, making cross-institution collaboration essential to integrate expertise, accelerate innovation, and deliver real-world solutions,” said Campbell.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of building a more climate-resilient society.

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