Tai Odaniell is a sophomore at OSU studying Chemical Engineering who is committed to making the world a more sustainable environment. Tai was a part of the Johnson Internship Program for the School for Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering this summer and helped develop a solar dish that uses parabolic mirrors to concentrate sunrays into biomass. This biomass gets broken down using pyrolysis to create biochar, which can be added to soil to increase water retention, soil nutrition and more.
Tai is also involved in a research project with a small startup company that is working to create an electrolyte to produce hydrogen through electrolysis in a more environmentally friendly way, including using stainless steel as a building tool.
Tai’s vision of a sustainable world involves reusing resources, and reducing everyone’s carbon footprint. She got involved in sustainable research at OSU because in high school she had the opportunity to learn about environmentalism in multiple courses, which stemmed her passion for environmental work. This passion, combined with her aptitude for science and math lead her to Chemical Engineering! She wants to go into renewable energy research in the future, because she wants to make a positive impact on the environment and world. Tai hopes that one day Oregon State University will run completely off of renewable resources.
Aside from her sustainability work, Tai also has traveled quite a lot! As a kid she traveled to China on multiple occasions, to help build orphanages with her mom. She also has traveled to the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean area, Spain, Morocco and many other countries in the European region!
Thank you Tai for all your hard work to create a more sustainable world and your passion of renewable resources! Your research and your sustainable goals are making a difference on this campus and in the world!
CATEGORIES: Campus Sustainability Sustainable Student Spotlight