Members of the Pratt community and public recently gathered for Research Open House (ROH) 2024 at the Research Yard—an award-winning facility in the Brooklyn Navy Yard that houses Pratt’s research centers and research accelerators—to learn about innovative ideas and projects in research, advocacy, scholarship, and community being undertaken by Pratt students, faculty, and staff. Over 550 people attended the March 8 event from across Pratt and beyond, including industry and non-profit leaders, students from Design Works High School and other nearby schools, local neighbors, partners, and community members.
Organized by the Office of Research and Strategic Partnerships in the Provost’s Office, Pratt’s ROH has been held annually since 2017, and this year saw more than 50 research projects spanning topics from materials innovation and climate resilience to digital literacy and housing. Four projects were awarded honors for excellence in the categories of Sustainability, Impact, Innovation, and Start-Up Power.
Research Open House 2024
Sustainability Award
The Sustainability Award went to the Environmental Sensing Lab for the AquaSteady project presented by Cindie Kehlet, professor of chemistry, Helio Takai, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Karol M. Murlak, professor of industrial design, and Anna Collette, visiting associate professor of math and science. For the second year in a row, the project (previously called Aqua Sacs) received the Sustainability Award for advancing creative solutions to combat soil degradation and water scarcity. The AquaSteady project team is working with partners across disciplines to develop seaweed-based water absorbents that balance soil moisture, help crops to withstand droughts, and reduce the need for irrigation. The project recently received a $5 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Impact Award
The Impact Award went to Data Literacy with, for, and by Youth, led by Professor Leanne Bowler and Professor Irene Lopatovska from the School of Information, and Associate Professor of Math and Science Mark Rosin. The two-year NSF-supported project involved designing a development method for data literacy programs for young people in library-based after-school programming. The researchers worked collaboratively and iteratively with 48 teen participants who co-created the program, allowing them to gain experience with participatory design methods and share their interests and concerns regarding data.
Start-Up Power Award
Rescuing Woven Tales: The Ever Growing Sponge, led by Michael Ortiz Jiménez, MArch ‘24, and Paula Stoddard Sotomayor, MArch ‘24, earned the Start-Up Power Award. The research considers both the environmental consequences and the transformative architectural potential of textile waste. Jiménez and Sotomayor traced the makeup of various types of textiles and particularly explored the capacity of certain fabrics to be repurposed into eco-responsive planters that can better retain water, thereby contributing to water management.
Innovation Award
The Innovation Award went to the SCOBY Project, led by Moein Shashaei, visiting assistant professor of undergraduate communications design. Shashaei’s research explores the potential of SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), best known as a key element in producing kombucha, to replace non-recyclable plastic, leather, or paper goods. Shashaei investigated the mechanisms behind the kombucha biofilm, viewing the cross-species collaboration within the SCOBY ecosystems as a template for humans to engage more harmoniously with our environment.
People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award will be selected through online voting, open to the public. Explore the Research Open House projects online and cast a ballot for your favorite project, whether it advances sustainability efforts, inspires societal change, or makes a meaningful contribution to a scholarly field. Voting ends on April 12, and the winner will be announced online soon after.