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Tennessee Tech Ph.D. students design renovations to Monterey’s Whitaker Park
Entrance to Whitaker Park in Monterey, Tenn.
A team of three Ph.D. students at Tennessee Tech University who spent the spring semester
designing renovations to improve Whitaker Park in Monterey, Tenn. as part of their
food-energy-water (FEW) class project recently learned that the city’s board approved
their preliminary plans.
Sahera Abumariam, chemical engineering; Michael Miner, electrical engineering; and
Carey Wilson, STEM education; presented their vision to add a self-sufficient "energy
park" to the space that generates its own renewable power while also providing educational
opportunities for the local community. The team also envisions adding food and water
components as they progress.
“We want to have a community greenhouse in the park where the community is going to
be able to get together and share ideas and grow their own fruits and vegetables in
the park,” Abumariam explained. “And for the water component, we want to have a water
reclamation system from rainwater or the water from the bathrooms that will go through
a filtration system to be used as an irrigation system.”
“This project is particularly significant to me because it intertwines two crucial
elements: education and renewable energy practices,” Wilson said. “By promoting sustainable
energy solutions and fostering educational opportunities, this project not only will
potentially transform a central Appalachian community but also pave the way for a
brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.”
Miner added, "Growing up in Mt. Juliet, I have countless memories from visiting Charlie
Daniels Park. I had so many great moments with friends and family at that park. I
hope to bring great moments and experiences to the beautiful city of Monterey and
the Upper Cumberland region through this one-of-a-kind park, helping younger generations
connect to renewable energy and STEM. I believe that these core memories will inspire
younger generations in rural communities to learn about and embrace renewable energy,
as well as develop a love for STEM through an educational, fun and safe experience.
The goal is what I believe makes this park so innovative."
The proposed park addition would feature interactive exhibits that allow visitors,
especially children, to experience how renewable energy works in a hands-on way. For
example, a pedal-powered water turbine that would light up as visitors ride stationary
bicycles. Another example of the proposed new features is a water-powered generator
that uses flowing water to spin a rotor and generate electricity.
The students are part of the first student cohort established in 2022 by a $3 million
grant from the National Science Foundation’s National Research Traineeship Program
for the project called “Engendering the Spirit of Gadugi at the Food-Energy-Water
Nexus.” The project’s goal is to empower graduate students to identify and solve challenges
involving food, energy and water for those in Appalachian, rural areas, and in Cherokee
communities in Tennessee.
“Gadugi is a sacred core value to the Cherokee people,” said Troy Smith, professor
of history at Tech. “Loosely translated, this word means 'community,' but specifically
this principle means people coming together as one and working together to help one
another.”
Sabrina Buer, program coordinator, added, “As researchers guided by the spirit of
Gadugi, we know that we must put the good of the group ahead of the individual and
develop relationships with people in our communities to work together to both identify
and find solutions to these challenges.”
The multidisciplinary student team used the Renaissance Foundry Model, an effort led
by Pedro Arce, professor of chemical engineering at Tech, and his colleagues, J. Robby
Sanders and Andrea Arce-Trigatti, which emphasizes critical thinking, leadership and
team-based skills. They also received training in critical thinking and community-based
collaborations from Buer and Ada Haynes, professor of sociology.
Following this model, Arce indicated, the students spent the semester in the extensive
process of research, community surveys, proposal writing and design iterations to
develop their comprehensive prototype of innovative technology with feedback from
Monterey leadership. They presented their extensive plans as their final class project
to a panel of Tech professors, and then later to Monterey’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
In addition to an informational booklet filled with blueprints, sketches and budget
numbers, the students presented the board with their desire to help beyond their class
assignment, including helping to provide additional ideas for funding sources and
partnerships.
“Other student projects considered prototypes of innovative technology in Foundry-guided
courses, including a compost-community garden project, sustainability efforts at the
university level, and sustainable agricultural processes,” said Andrea Arce-Trigatti,
one of the course co-instructors. “All student groups worked with local or programmatic
community partners and were inspired by immersion experiences as part of the course.”
“For those interested in taking this, or similar classes, the NSF-NRT program offers
FEW-based and cultural training courses in the Fall and Spring semesters that can
be bundled in a graduate certificate for those interested in community-based partnership
research,” added J. Robby Sanders, course co-instructor and interim chair of chemical
engineering.