Asahel Aguilar Ortiz Sustainability Summer Research Fellow Spotlight

Q. How will this summer research fellowship support your research efforts and future goals?

A. "The fellowship will support my time in the lab where I will run experiments. Overall, this experience is very valuable to me because power and energy is my passion, so getting research experience in this line of work prepares me for my career."

Q. Why is sustainability research important?

A. "Sustainability research is important because it is progress. In order to progress as a species and a society, there must be improvements towards a more cohesive, sustainable future. Every new small fragment of information is knowledge that can be used to formulate the next fragment."

Q. What advice would you give to other UK students thinking about doing research?

A. "From what I have experienced and what others have told me, most people are not ready for the patience aspect of research. Patience is important because as much as we will want to do, there is only so much we can do in a given time. Time doesn't change in the lab. Every one in the lab still has to wait for reactions or wait for results to come back or wait to receive the equipment you need. It is then up to the individual to determine the best way to spend downtime preparing the next reaction, or reading up on the topic."

The UK Office of Undergraduate Research's Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship program provides undergraduates with the opportunity to study in a wide variety of disciplines while doing intensive and self-directed research with a sustainability focus under the supervision of a faculty mentor.

Co-sponsored by the UK Student Sustainability Council