Faculty News
MechE Faculty: Going Even Greener Professors Focus on Sustainability Outside the Lab
T
his issue of Carnegie Mech showcases the environmental research efforts of MechE faculty. In addition to their innovative work in the lab, many MechE faculty members literally “go green” every day—using sustainable transportation on their daily commute to Carnegie Mellon.
Many professors live close enough to the campus to walk, preserving fossil fuels and reducing emissions while also getting exercise. Professors Bill Messner, Jon Malen, Shelley Anna, Burak Kara, Metin Sitti, Shi-Chune Yao, and Jessica Zhang are among those who can often be seen walking through Oakland and nearby neighborhoods. Messner even skis to work through Schenley Park on snowy days! An increasing number of MechE faculty are biking to work every day. This vocal and energetic group is quick to share their enthusiasm about the environmental and health benefits of bicycling, as well as their opinions on the best equip- ment and safety strategies. Here, some of MechE’s bike riders share their perspectives on “going greener” every day.
“Transportation is respon- sible for over a quarter of
all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Biking means practically zero emissions. Biking and walking through Schenley Park each day is one of the joys of living in Pittsburgh and working at Carnegie Mellon. A little bit
of exercise and forest bathing each day is good for the soul and can help put things in perspec- tive. I always catch the peak fall colors, and I
bike through much of the winter.” — Jeremy Michalek
“I ride my bike to and from campus from April through mid-November. It’s about three
miles each way, taking me through Highland Park, East Liberty, Friendship, and Shadyside. The ride is 20 minutes, about twice as fast as the bus. It’s also faster than driving, as I can park in my office. I feel better on days that I ride. The exercise helps me get going right away. The ride home gives me time to decom- press at the end of the day. I’ve been a bike commuter consistently since junior high—
almost 25 years!” — Alan McGaughey
Professor Bill Messner skis to work on snowy days.
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“I live in South Squirrel Hill, and commute by bicycle into the University. In the winter I take the short way in—it’s
about three miles. In the summer I take a longer ride along Beechwood Boulevard, which is about five miles. Either way, I ride up and down some good Pittsburgh hills! On weekends I ride around Pittsburgh with my 12-year-old son. We go down to the rivers and follow the bike paths there for a 25-mile ride. There is a good map of Pittsburgh that shows which roads have bike lanes, and we are
exploring that.” — Maarten de Boer
“I ride a Batavus delivery bike, a sturdy Dutch bicycle with lots of places to carry things. I’ve
decked it out with reflective tape and antenna flags that support the Steelers and Penguins. Riding your bike reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality. It guaran- tees you a little aerobic exercise every day. And choosing a place to live that is close to work helps reduce urban sprawl, which leaves a few more natural areas for future generations. Walk- ing and biking to places near your home also helps grow local businesses. If lots of people make these little changes, we can make mean-
ingful changes for our communities.” — Steve Collins •
CARNEGIE MECH
Photo courtesy Jeremy Michalek
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