The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Charlotte Michaluk, a freshman at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, was selected as honorable mention for the agency’s Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award.
During the 2021 virtual Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), Charlotte’s project titled “Innovative Climate Change Emissions Reduction: The Cargo Ship Flettner Rotor Centrifugal Vortex Exhaust Scrubber” which developed a novel and efficient system for reducing emissions from cargo ships, was awarded, according to information provided by the EPA on June 10.
“The student finalists in this year’s ISEF are applying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts in remarkable ways to help protect human health and the environment, and their projects are truly inspiring,” EPA Science Advisor Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta said in the statement. “Despite a challenging academic year, I congratulate all of this year’s finalists for their remarkable passion and enthusiasm, and I encourage them to continue to seek innovative ways to tackle complex environmental challenges.”
EPA’s Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award provides funds for the winner to travel to EPA’s National Sustainability Design Expo. The expo features the university and college student teams participating in EPA’s P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet program, which encourages innovative designs applying STEM concepts to address environmental challenges, according to the statement.
Created and produced by the Society for Science & the Public, the virtual 2021 Regeneron ISEF showcased the innovative projects of 1,833 finalists from 64 countries, regions and territories who compete for approximately $5 million in awards and scholarships, according to the statement. Since 2009, EPA has participated in the ISEF by recognizing a project that demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship with the EPA Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award.
For more information about EPA’s participation in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and to see past winners of the Patrick H. Hurd Award, visit www.epa.gov/research/epas-patrick-h-hurd-sustainability-award
More information about EPA’s People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability is available at www.epa.gov/P3
