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Sustainability Capstone

The Sustainability Capstone is the capstone course for the Mascaro Center's Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability and MS in Sustainable Engineering degree. 

This project-based course provides interdisciplinary teams of students with the opportunity to partner with external stakeholders and synthesize solutions to complex, real-world sustainability challenges.

Project topics are developed in consultation with instructors and sustainability stakeholders. Innovative solutions require the application of critical thinking and collaboration to resolve. By the end of the course the students will have a deeper understanding of:

  1. The multi-faceted nature of Sustainability solutions,
  2. Approaches to problem solving across fields, and
  3. How to communicate sustainable solutions and concepts in an interdisciplinary team environment.

Explore student projects from previous years below.

Recent Student Projects

Operation Better Block

Acknowledgments: Catherine Barone, Fiona Benge, Allyson Frantz, Martina Frederick, Ethan Rihn, Dr. David Sanchez, and Dr. Tony Kerzmann

Etsy Electrification

Acknowledgments: Margaret Balich, Luke Barnett, Brittany Gallo, Alexandra Lopez, Olivia Rossi, Dr. David Sanchez, and Dr. Tony Kerzmann

Sustainability Capstone Partners

Explore MCSI's past Sustainability Capstone partners using the tabs below.

2024 Partners

Agilent Technologies

Behr

Bureau of Acid Mine Reclamation (BAMR)

City of Uniontown Pennsylvania

Eos

Etsy

Liberty Tire Recycling

Mattress Recycling Council

Oasis Farm & Fishery

Operation Better Block

2023 Partners

Agropur Dairy Cooperative

Appalachian Sustainable Development

Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT)
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh

eBay

Eos

Oasis Farm & Fishery

2022 Partners

Coeur Mining

Fayette County Cultural Trust

Floor & Decor

The Honest Company, Inc.

Owens Corning

PepsiCo

SABIC

Stepan Company

2021 Partners

Avient

Carnegie Museum of Art

City of Pittsburgh

Corning Incorporated

IPIKU

Koppers Inc.

Mosaic

Pillars Assets

2020 Partners

Operation Better Block

Town of McCandless Pennsylvania

Wilkinsburg Community Ministry

Worm Wrangler

2019 Partners

Center for Social & Urban Research,
University of Pittsburgh

Fifth Season

Millie's Homemade Ice Cream

Montauk Renewables

Oasis Farm & Fishery

2018 Partners

The City of Pittsburgh, Mobility & Infrastructure

Cropolis

RoBotany

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development