Rochester Institute of Technology

Part of our Profiled Universities

Institution: Rochester Institute of Technology 

Focus Area: sustainable manufacturing, remanufacturing, clean production, sustainable product development, sustainable mobility, sustainable energy systems 

Expertise: Design for Remanufacturing, Remanufacturing Process Technology, Remanufacturing Policy, Sustainable Manufacturing Applied Research

Key projects:

• REMADE: $140 million from US Department of Energy and US stakeholders for REMADE – institute to find new and less expensive ways to reusereuseThe repeated use of a product or component for its intended purpose without significant modification., recyclerecycleTransform a product or component into its basic materials or substances and reprocessing them into new materials. and remanufactureremanufactureRe-engineer products and components to as-new condition with the same, or improved, level of performance as a newly manufactured one. metals, fibers, polymers and electronics.

• Reman Roadmap: An industry-led remanufacturing technology roadmap providing an actionable plan for broad industry, government, and academic collaboration to overcome technological barriers currently inhibiting the growth of advanced manufacturing capabilities in the remanufacturing industry.

• UNEP Report – Re-defining Value– The Manufacturing Revolution. Remanufacturing, Refurbishment, Repair and Direct Reuse in the Circular Economy: A UN report delivering new research on circular economies from the International Resource Panel at the World Circular EconomyCircular EconomyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. Forum in Yohohama, Japan. Co-authored by Nabil Nasr, Associate Provost and Director of RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability and Jennifer Russell, Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech and former Ph.D. student in sustainability of Nasr’s at GIS.

Connect with:

 Nabil Nasr, Associate Provost & Director, Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS)

nzneie@rit.edu

Find out more: 

Rochester Institute of Technology established the Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS), which is comprised of both academic programmes and research centres, and consists of a multidisciplinary team of 118 dedicated faculty, staff researchers and funded students who collaborate with organisations locally, nationally, and internationally to create implementable solutions to complex sustainability problems. Their strategy is the development of graduate-level courses dedicated to circular economy for incorporation into GIS degree programmes, and partnership with industry, research institutions, and other universities to conduct remanufacturing policy and technology research.

The GIS education programs include a Ph.D. program in sustainability with a focus on sustainable production and a Masters program with three tracks: sustainable manufacturing, sustainable energy systems, and sustainable mobility. GIS also offers a Master of Architecture program which integrates sustainability and architecture in the built environment.