Research
Research
As a global leader in sustainability research, we're closing the gap between theory and practice when it comes to transitioning industrial systems to the circular economy.
Our facilities boast more than 84,000 square feet of labs and testbeds, with over 100 full-time engineers, technicians, research faculty, and sponsored students on staff. The diverse perspectives we bring to a problem reflect our broad expertise across industries, not to mention the partnerships we’ve formed with the businesses, government agencies, and research bodies that are driving innovation within sustainability today.
Research Centers
Each of our research centers helps our corporate and government partners move forward on sustainability in unique ways. All together they work towards three key outcomes: new applications of advanced technology, sustainable industrial processes and practices, and data-informed policy recommendations.
Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery
The Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery explores new technologies that recover and recapture the embedded value typically lost when products reach the end of their life cycle.
Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing
The Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing helps New York state manufacturers develop and apply new technologies that create competitive business advantages.
Sustainable Energy Systems
The Center for Sustainable Energy Systems seeks to reduce the energy consumed in the production, distribution, use, and disposal of products and industrial materials.
Transportation and Mobility
The Center for Sustainable Mobility explores practical applications of autonomous vehicles, sensors and components, smart cities software, and communication tools that will enable more intelligent and effective mobility systems.
Clean Production
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute gives New York State businesses, communities, and nonprofit organizations customized solutions and educational resources that help them realize the benefits of sustainability.
NanoPower
The NanoPower Research Laboratories researches novel nanomaterials, devices for power generation and storage, and emerging materials for photonic and optoelectronic applications.
We brought together the largest consortia of business, government, and academia to advance promising circular economy technologies in the U.S.—the REMADE Institute.
Faculty Research
From resource scarcity to climate change, our faculty are meeting today’s most pressing challenges head on to find new opportunities for the circular economy. Focusing on food waste, electronic waste, renewable energy, and energy policy, their research helps government and industry decision-makers achieve sustainable growth through technological innovation and policy-making. Explore some of their most recently completed projects below or view all faculty scholarships.
Dr. Callie Babbitt
Dr. Eric Williams
Dr. Thomas A. Trabold
“We look forward to working with RIT in developing new ideas—both from academic and industrial viewpoints—that will educate engineers and scientists in support of the circular economy.”
- Jules Hayward, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Latest News
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August 17, 2020
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RIT researchers use collaborative approach to help get a handle on pandemic
A team of RIT researchers has been working to blast-clean some 360 door handles from buildings across campus to restore the surface copper. Copper has been found to have antibacterial properties that can kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
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May 4, 2020
![Nabil Nasr.]()
RIT’s Nabil Nasr named to Board of Trustees at Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Nabil Nasr, RIT’s associate provost and founding director of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, has been appointed a Trustee by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, formed in 2010 to inspire a generation to rethink, redesign and build a positive future through the vision of a circular economy.
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April 17, 2020
![farmers and researchers in greenhouse using tractor to put down mulch barrier.]()
Multidisciplinary project studies degradable mulching films
A federal grant matched by New York state and RIT is enabling university researchers to study a competitive solution to polyethylene mulch and identify a more sustainable alternative to conventionally used plastics in farming.
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April 6, 2020
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RIT leads regional response to ventilator shortage, creating prototype to aid coronavirus fight
RIT is leading an effort involving local companies and healthcare experts to produce a prototype ventilator designed to help meet the continuing surge of respiratory cases as a result of the coronavirus.
Industry Collaboration
We also work with businesses large and small on technical problem solving, product or production process innovation, new technology development and more.