Earth Day benefits through local student
Another “planet hero” on this Earth Day is local student Avery Sangster, a student at Marlborough Hancock Park’s oldest all-girls, college-preparatory private school. Among its many academic departments, the high school offers The Leonetti/O’Connell Honors Research in Science program headed by Allison Ponzio, Ph.D., which Sangster is part of.
AVERY SANGSTER is a student in the Leonetti/O’Connell Honors Research in Science Program at Marlborough.
Ponzio explained, “The program offers students the opportunity to participate in hands-on research in a STEM+ subject for which they have an inherent passion. Students conduct their research projects in an academic laboratory setting or collect data on campus for one to two years, receiving guidance and supervision from a professional research mentor and Marlborough faculty, which results in deep, meaningful scholarship.”
I asked Sangster to tell us more:
Earth Day is coming up in April. Are you doing research that you think pertains?
I am a senior and in my second year of the Marlborough Honors Research Program. I work in a wet lab at the UCLA Institute of Carbon Management, where I assist graduate students with research focused on carbon capture. Carbon capture is the process of removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air or emissions and storing it so it can’t enter the atmosphere, which is important because it helps reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
Tell us about your project.
In my first year, I assisted on a low-carbon cement project researching a scalable method to produce a cement alternative that could reduce emissions from traditional cement production. This is an important challenge, as the cement industry would rank as the third or fourth largest emitter of CO₂ if it were a country. This year, I am working on a seawater carbonation project that focuses on accelerating the ocean’s inherent ability to absorb and permanently store massive amounts of carbon.
REAL-WORLD RESEARCH has inspired Avery Sangster (right), pictured with Honors Research Program Head Dr. Allison Ponzio.
What do you hope to study when you leave Marlborough?
I plan to study engineering at the University of Michigan this fall. My time at the lab has certainly inspired me to love chemical engineering, especially its intersection with sustainability; however, I’m open to exploring other engineering disciplines. I love science and math, and research allows me to not only apply the concepts I learn in school, but also to be hands-on in finding solutions to real-world challenges.
Tell me about yourself!
I live in Hollywood Hills but grew up eating Sam’s Bagels and going to the Larchmont Fair. I have always been passionate about fighting climate change and co-authored “COOL: Women Leaders Reversing Global Warming,” the first book to document the work of women climate leaders globally. I also love to play tennis and bake for my friends and family.
Category: People
