The Sustainability Stakeholder Café, now in its second year, brought together 25 Capstone Design teams and 27 community stakeholders for an evening of idea exchange.
The event, organized by Dr. Reem Roufail, associate professor and Dr. Andrew Atkinson, communications professional-in-residence, from the Department of Systems Design Engineering, welcomes Capstone Design teams from across campus working on sustainability-focused projects. Topics ranged from waste management and air quality to robotics to medical devices.
Stakeholders included sustainability professionals, academic researchers, business leaders who have integrated sustainable practices into their operations, and youth contributors offering a fresh perspective on designing a more sustainable future.
Throughout the Café, teams shared their early-stage concepts, gathered feedback, and strengthened connections with the broader sustainability community. The lively exchanges underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing solutions that are both innovative and impactful.
The strong turnout and thoughtful conversations demonstrate growing momentum for sustainability-driven design and the value of bringing diverse voices into the process.
The Sustainability Stakeholder Café will return in Fall 2026.
