ECU CSE3 Newsletter
Spring Edition: April 24, 2025
Note from the Editor
As the weather warms and the days grow longer, we’re excited to embrace the opportunities spring brings! With sunnier days ahead, we’re gearing up for outdoor events like the Earth Day Festival hosted by ECU Sustainability and the Clean Energy High School Career Fair organized by the Center for Energy Education (C4EE), both of which we’ve been invited to participate in. These events are just the beginning of our continued efforts to engage both our students and the wider community.
At the Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, we focus on enhancing public awareness of renewable energy technologies and natural resource management through research and workforce training. This year, we’re celebrating Earth Day under the theme OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, inviting everyone to come together in support of renewable energy.
In 2023, the U.S. produced more solar power than ever before, with states like California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Nevada, and Arizona leading the way. We are especially pleased to see North Carolina included among these state leaders driving the transition to clean, affordable energy for all.
We proudly support these efforts through research in solar, wind, and ocean technologies and by actively participating in the development of future engineers who will help create pathways to accessible clean energy. We remain committed to engaging students in impactful projects on campus and in the community. Thank you for being part of this journey, and we look forward to the opportunities ahead!
Sincerely,
Marly Irby, PhD
Environmental Specialist – Pollution Prevention
Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering
East Carolina University
Honoring Our Planet—Today and Every Day
Though Earth Day was officially celebrated on April 22, our commitment to the planet continues every day. Earth Day 2025 highlights the urgent need for climate action and calls on all of us to invest in our planet, but what does that truly mean? This year, the focus is on renewable energy, and the message is clear: the solutions to create clean, affordable, and unlimited energy are already within reach. From solar and wind to geothermal and hydro power, renewable technologies are transforming our world. In 2023, the U.S. produced more solar power than ever before, with states like California, Texas, and North Carolina leading the way. Texas, long associated with oil, now leads in wind energy generation. Across the globe, countries like Uruguay, Denmark, and Kenya are demonstrating the power and potential of renewables, with Uruguay generating 98% of its electricity from renewable sources and Kenya relying on geothermal for nearly half of its electricity. The cost of solar energy has dropped dramatically—up to 93% since 2010—making it one of the cheapest sources of electricity in history. As we move forward, we join the global call to triple renewable energy generation by 2030. Clean energy offers not only environmental benefits but also improved health outcomes, energy access, and equity across communities. We invite the ECU community to keep the Earth Day spirit alive, embrace sustainable practices, support climate-friendly policies, and help build a healthier, more equitable future for all. Let’s commit to renewable energy now.
For more information visit the official Earth Day website.
Welcome to the Team!
We’re excited to welcome Ash Davis, Bryan Mendoza Garcia, and Daniel Hackett-Fishback to our team! They will be supporting the center’s mission to advance public awareness and promote renewable energy technologies, the conservation of natural resources, and pollution prevention efforts across North Carolina. Their work will involve assisting with outreach events, supporting technical teams in report preparation, contributing to marketing campaigns, and more. Through their efforts, they will help encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices and pollution prevention strategies, playing an essential role in helping us achieve our center’s goals.
Ash Davis
Ash Davis is a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering, along with minors in Mathematics, Composite Natural Science, and Biology at East Carolina University. They have conducted undergraduate summer research focused on improving water treatment methods using water leachate samples from New Bern, NC. Ash also has an extracurricular interest in studying the effects of industrialization on global climate change. When away from their desk at CSE3, they enjoy collecting physical media in film, music, and video games, as well as creating personal art projects. They have also helped coordinate the most recent newsletters and P2 webinars and has provided support in designing flyers for P2 events, such as our workshop on Sustainability & Pollution Prevention in Manufacturing. Lastly, Ash recently has been managing our Instagram social media account, gathering attention for the center and interacting with other environmental groups on campus.
Bryan Mendoza Garcia
Bryan Mendoza Garcia is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering, along with minors in Mathematics and Composite Natural Science. He has previously contributed to a research paper on the impact of climate change on ecological flows by analyzing data from models of the Tar River. His team focused on predicting low-flow conditions under climate change, with future projections included in their findings. Through his work in various undergraduate research opportunities, Bryan has developed an interest in modeling and coding, which has strengthened his passion for environmental engineering. During his time at CSE3, Bryan has contributed to various tasks, including preparing reports, finding new clients, and promoting workshops and webinars. When Bryan is away from the office, he enjoys playing video games, drawing, and spending time with animals at home.
Daniel Hackett-Fishback
Daniel Hackett-Fishback is a junior working toward a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, along with a minor in Vocal Music. With a love for motorsports and international business, Daniel has been heavily involved in events such as bringing the Daytona International Speedway President, Frank Kelleher, to ECU. He is also an avid public speaker, focusing on teamwork and communication. Because of this focus, he has made a habit of sharing his knowledge and everything he learns with the clubs he was involved in while attending high school. This includes speaking at the Future Business Leaders of America State Conference in North Carolina and the DECA State Conference. In his free time, Daniel enjoys reading, singing, and keeping up to date with technological advancements. While at CSE3, Daniel has helped catalog engagement with newsletters, campaigns, and social media.
Student Spotlight
Jacob Zino
The Center is pleased to spotlight Jacob Zino, a determined and hardworking student who has been with us since September 2022. Originally from Apex, North Carolina, Jacob is currently majoring in Industrial Engineering Technology and is set to graduate in May 2025. Since joining the Center, Jacob has made valuable contributions by supporting Pollution Prevention (P2) activities. His work typically involves assisting with data collection, conducting onsite visits to local manufacturers, and contributing to technical reports that help identify potential sustainable practices. Jacob’s efforts have played a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability and improving efficiency across various industries. His commitment to the Center’s mission has made him an integral part of our team during his time here.
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! CSE3 wishes you all the best as you embark on your career journey.
Professor Spotlight
Dr. Merwan Mehta
Dr. Merwan Mehta is a faculty member in the College of Engineering and Technology at ECU. He is the coordinator for the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology program, the Master of Science in Technology Management program with focus on manufacturing and quality, and the Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt graduate certificate. Prior to joining academia in 2004, Dr. Mehta has over twenty years of experience in business and industry as a business owner in two companies, and as vice president, manufacturing manager, project director, industrial engineer, machine tool design engineer, and manufacturing engineer in various firms.
His current research interests include enhancing manufacturing and business processes through Lean principles and theory of constraints and pursuing quality enhancement and variation control through Six-Sigma principles and design of experiments.
Dr. Mehta actively contributes to the center by teaching technical courses on Lean Six-Sigma and waste reduction. He also presents workshops on pollution prevention and sustainability in manufacturing.
Recent Activities
Since January 2025, we have hosted four webinars covering a range of topics—from managing environmental data to our most recent session on Sustainable Supply Chain Management. These events attracted a total of 181 participants from both industry and academia. In addition to the webinars, we organized three in-person workshops: one at ECU’s Sci-Tech Building, one in Beaufort County, and another in Chatham County. These workshops aimed to raise awareness about pollution prevention strategies for manufacturers while also addressing key sustainability topics such as green supply chain management, environmental stewardship in manufacturing, Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and improving operations through energy and efficiency enhancements.
Student Experience Opinion Board
We have planned visits to breweries and other companies, offering students valuable opportunities to apply their engineering skills in real-world industry settings.
“As engineering majors, how have these experiences helped you apply and develop your skills?”
“Going on onsite energy audits has helped me develop a keen eye for sustainable practices. It has also allowed me to work on technical reports. As a team, we discuss energy inefficiencies and explore ways to improve systems using methodologies taught in our engineering courses”.
“Going to companies and conducting energy audits has helped me develop skills and learn new concepts that are likely not covered in classes. It has also provided me with experience in data collection across a variety of industries and increased my familiarity with manufacturing facilities”.Farewell Chris
Chris Costin, CSE3 Creative Design Assistant:
We bid a fond farewell to Chris Costin, our talented Creative Design Assistant at CSE3. Chris brought both creativity and technical insight to the team. We’re grateful for Chris’s dedication and the fresh perspective she brought from her Industrial Technology background. Wishing her all the best in her future endeavors!
“Ever since going to community college and reading about sustainability in the HVAC field I’ve had an interest in reducing energy use. Working with the Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering has been eye-opening as far as tools and resources available to improve business and industrial efficiency when it comes to energy and resource reduction. Working as the creative design assistant I’ve been very pleased to see the reception my designs have gotten and feel proud that they are things that are going to be used to spread the word of sustainability for a while to come”
Get Involved: Upcoming Events
Webinar: the Role of Forest Products in Decarbonizing the Built Environment
Dr. Marly Irby is a Forest Engineer with a Ph.D. in Forest Resources, specializing in Sustainable Bioproducts. As an Environmental Specialist focused on Pollution Prevention at East Carolina University, she leads initiatives to help manufacturers adopt pollution prevention and source reduction strategies. Prior to joining ECU, Dr. Irby conducted research on the physical and mechanical properties of hardwood and softwood lumber. She also brings valuable experience from her time in sales and customer service within the forest products industry, which enhances her ability to lead marketing and outreach efforts, further expanding the reach and impact of the center’s sustainability initiatives.
This webinar aims to highlight how forest products can play a transformative role in reducing carbon emissions and fostering sustainable, circular economies within the built environment.
Date: May 29, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.
Register for Webinar: the Role of Forest Products in Decarbonizing the Built Environment
Earth Day Festival
Date: April 25 | Time: 10 AM – 2 PM | Location: ECU Campus (Behind Student Center)
Stop by our table at the Earth Day Festival! We’ll be showcasing student projects that highlight how pollution prevention plays a crucial role in protecting the environment. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about the Center’s ongoing sustainability efforts and connect with others who are passionate about making a positive impact on our planet.
Clean Energy High School Career Fair
Date: May 2nd | Time: 10 AM – 1 PM | Location: C4EE, 460 Airport Road, Roanoke Rapids, NC
Our team will be participating in the Clean Energy High School Career Fair, organized by the Center for Energy Education (C4EE)! This event aims to inspire the next generation of clean energy leaders. Students will have the chance to explore career paths in sustainable energy and discover exciting opportunities in this growing field. Be sure to stop by our table and say hello!
CSE3 P2 Newsletter Editorial and Design Team
- Dr. Marly Irby, Pollution Prevention Specialist
- Pablo Nunez MSc, Pollution Prevention Specialist
- Katie Sperry, Research Assistant
- Jonathan Avila, Research Assistant
- Chris Costin, Creative Design Assistant
- Ash Davis, Creative Design and Communications Assistant
- Babacar Niass, Research Assistant
- Daniel Hackett, Marketing and Communications Assistant
- Jacob Zino, Research Assistant
- Bryan Mendoza Garcia, Research Assistant