Green Honorees & Their Projects

Oil Field Installations such as production flow stations, gas plants, rigs, and refineries unarguably produce a considerable amount of greenhouse gases, posing a serious firsthand adverse effect to the workers and their immediate environment. Strategic integration of biophilic design principles can mitigate the adverse effects of these toxic emissions. By harmonizing natural elements such as greenery and airflow within workspaces, we anticipate enhanced air quality, stress reduction, and higher cognitive performance. This holistic approach aims to create resilient, regenerative environments that foster well-being, productivity, and ecological balance amidst industrial challenges.

My research examines the practical approach of implementing water-sensitive design (WSD) in low-income areas to better understand the challenges, potentials, and advantages of WSD. The study's hypothesis suggests that an inclusive, piecemeal implementation approach, involving a variety of stakeholders, is the most effective way to address the barriers to WSD implementation. The study aims to develop water-sensitive architecture in low-income areas (such as Hout Bay, South Africa) to uncover qualitative lessons and insights into the barriers, opportunities, and benefits of WSD.

My research study maintains that growing selected local food crops, such as traditional African vegetables, in outdoor modular living walls in South African urban environments as edible green infrastructure can increase the efficiency of living wall systems. Herewith is a link to a short one-and-a-half minute video clip I developed for my International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) World Building Congress 2022 presentation: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-G-i1xFZJs&t=2s

A maquette of a tri-chord space truss made from date palm rachis bundles. This space truss can be used for building light wide-span structures without the use of wood which is highly scarce in the MENA region.  It is worth noting that both designs utilize rachis in their natural form, with minimal preparation and using the traditional techniques craftsmen employ in traditional handicrafts and furniture. 

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NOTE: Eman and the top three Honorees will be presenting on Thursday, June 20 as part of our focus on Organic Architecture.  Graphics were not received in time for our other presenters.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECR) offers a promising approach to convert a greenhouse gas into valuable chemicals like formic acid and methane. However, a major challenge lies in achieving high selectivity for these products while minimizing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we explore the potential of ZnCu and ZnOCuO electrocatalysts for ECR. With recent studies highlighting the importance of designing electrocatalysts that favor CO₂ conversion over HER, our graphic abstracts visually depict the electrolysis process, emphasizing the desired ECR pathway and the suppression of HER. Inspired by this approach, our research aims to develop ZnCu and ZnOCuO electrocatalysts with optimized properties for selective CO₂ reduction to formic acid and methane to support a circular economy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Through a combination of material synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical evaluation, we strive to achieve high efficiency and selectivity in CO₂ conversion, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the African Economy.