On June 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Lucia Lammers, a senior at Harrison High School in Harrison, New York, has won EPA’s 2024 Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, CA. Lucia’s project, titled “Spectroscopic and Colorimetric Analysis of Textiles Dyed with Local Invasive Plant Species and Waste-Derived Mordants,” explored eco-friendly textile dyes to mitigate the negative environmental impact of local invasive plant species, municipal wastes, and synthetic dyes.
“Congratulations to Lucia Lammers and all the finalists at the International Science and Engineering Fair,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development. “Lucia's project shows great potential for making a difference that will positively impact our environment. I commend all the participants for their curiosity, drive and dedication, and encourage them to continue to pursue their passions.”
For her project, Lucia collaborated with local land conservation experts to identify highly invasive plant species affecting biodiversity. She developed dyes from these plants using substances sourced from waste materials to bind them to textiles. Her approach produced dyes with various saturated colors that are safer for the environment compared to synthetic dyes. Using a Life Cycle Assessment, she identified cost-effective and safe material combinations. Lucia aims to create more eco-friendly textiles and fashion through her passion for environmental stewardship.
Honorable mention went to Sarah Gao, a junior at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, California, for her project titled “From Trash to Treasure: Fighting Desertification with Sustainable Soil Amending Hydrogels Synthesized from Food Waste.” Inspired by her kindergarten science fair project on diaper absorbency, Sarah explored using agricultural waste peels from locally available fruit to create water-absorbing hydrogels. These hydrogels help retain soil moisture in drought-prone regions.
The EPA’s Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award funds the winning student’s participation in the following year’s EPA National Student Design Expo. The Expo features university and college student teams from the P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet program which encourages innovative designs applying STEM fields to address environmental challenges.
Lucia and Sarah were finalists at Regeneron® International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which is considered the world’s largest international pre-college science competition organized by Society for Science. Since 2009, EPA has recognized projects demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability at ISEF. This year’s event brought together 1,699 high school students from 67 countries who presented independent research competing for over $9 million in awards and scholarships.
For more information about EPA’s participation in ISEF or past winners of Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award visit [EPA website]. For details about ISEF visit [ISEF website] or check out EPA’s People, Prosperity, and Planet Student Design Competition on [EPA website].
