USC Center for Sustainability Solutions

Undergraduate Sustainability Grand Challenge Fellowship Program (USGCF)

The USC Center for Sustainability Solutions (CSS) Undergraduate Sustainability Grand Challenge Fellowship (USGCF) supports, through a competitive process, multidisciplinary research projects focused on sustainability. Funded by the CSS and open to undergraduate students in all USC majors, the USGCF contributes to extending to the larger USC community the values espoused by the Viterbi School of Engineering, the Price School of Public Policy, and the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program. To read more about the AY 23/24 sponsored projects click here.

Current sponsored projects:

Aloha AIr: Applying Machine Learning for Precise Air Quality Predictions

Jaron Kawamura (Viterbi School of Engineering) – Pratyush Jaishanker (Viterbi School of Engineering)

Both are returning Fellows from AY 23-24

Abstract: As climate change and industrial activity continue to compound the worsening levels of air pollution, improved technology may help to predict adverse air quality events. A machine learning (ML) architecture designed for this task may be most appropriate as mathematical models require updates to remain accurate. If effective, a predictive ML model will inform county and state health departments as they disseminate warnings to stay indoors, wear masks, and utilize air filtration where possible.

In the prior academic year, we designed a GNN-LSTM model to predict PM 2.5 in the Hawaiian Islands. Due to its remote location and general lack of anthropogenic air pollution, Hawaii faces mainly natural disasters, including wildfires and volcanic eruptions, as causes of adverse air quality. This made it a simple region to refine and test our model.

Previous studies have examined air quality post-disaster in metropolitan areas. However, the implementation of machine learning predictions of LA air quality by the LA County Public Health Department is not evident. Building off of our work on Hawaii air quality, we aim to fit our model to the conditions of Los Angeles. We also aim to develop an interpolation method to predict air quality at locations that are not measurement sites. With the completion of these tasks, our predictive model will be generally useful for users across the Los Angeles metropolitan area and other large regions worldwide.

Faculty Advisors: Bistra Dilkina (Viterbi School of Engineering) – Sam Silva (Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences)

Agriculture’s AI Revolution: Machine Learning Applications within Agrivoltaics

Jan Bassi (Marshall School of Business/ Viterbi School of Engineering) – Gabriele Ghione (Marshall School of Business/ Viterbi School of Engineering)

Abstract: Our research proposal is to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a specific focus on Machine Learning (ML), to increase the efficiency and viability of agrivoltaic farms in rural areas around the world. Agrivoltaics refers to the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture through photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted above crop fields. The panels shield plants from extreme weather, excessive sunlight and heat, which decreases crops’ transpiration and the overall water consumption of the farm. In addition to positively impacting the environment, PV systems reduce farmers’ operational costs and provide them with an additional source of income. This technology has enormous potential as land and energy resources get increasingly more scarce. However, it has had limited growth due to historically high costs, suboptimal PV panel installations, and a lack of synergies between stakeholders.

AI and ML can analyze large sets of multi-variable data to select the best crops for agrivoltaics implementation and calculate the most efficient PV panel layout, maximizing both energy output and crop yield. Once deployed, the software will dynamically adapt the PV panels’ orientation to optimize solar energy capture and crops’ sunlight exposure.

Faculty Advisors: James Owens (Marshall School of Business) – Jared Warner (Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences) – Rob Parke (Viterbi School of Engineering) – Aaron Wirthwein (Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences) – Nathalie Burle (Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences)

Impact Storytelling for Urban Farming

Arian Tomar (School of Cinematic Arts)

Abstract: Located in Panorama City, Cottonwood Urban Farm (CUF) proves the viability of converting dusty, vacant plots of underutilized land into thriving green spaces that reconnect individuals with the process of agriculture, foster connection with nature, educate, and empower communities to join the sustainability movement. CUF places social responsibility first and works with several nonprofits to facilitate the transformational process of taking food from seed to the table.

This fellowship will support a collaboration with CUF in creating a living library of stories from the dozens of community members that have supported the farm over the years. This library is the first part of a larger an impact storytelling project that would foster new engagement from the community in Panorama City and attract new stakeholders to support their expansion project through LA REPAIR. Media created would serve as documentation of the project’s journey and live as a model for replicable, urban renewal through agriculture, community, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Faculty Advisors: Joe Arvai (Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences) – Chris Bresnahan (Marshall School of Business) – Colin Maclay (Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism)

Circuit Breakers: Mining the Urban Mine for a Sustainable USC

Amir Reza Tehrani (Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences)

Abstract: Electronic devices are crucial to life at USC. The quest for thinner, faster, and more powerful technology, along with planned obsolescence in the consumer electronics sector, causes an ever-growing e-waste burden. Existing e-waste management strategies, predominantly reliant on a linear “take-make-dispose” model, neglect the environmental damage and fail to capitalize on the inherent resource-recovery potential. The absence of comprehensive on-campus solutions perpetuates this environmentally destructive loop and obscures a crucial potential for USC to lead in sustainable innovation.

This project aims to address the complex e-waste challenge by implementing the following objectives:

Faculty Advisors: François Bar (Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism) – Bhavna Sharma (USC School of Architecture)

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