Summer 2018 Synopsis

Project Team Leaders: Dr. Robert East, Dr. James March, and Dr. Patrick Caffrey

W&J students Samara Wendel ’20 and Jakob Locante ’19 completed internships at the Sino-German Ecopark, which is located just south of Qingdao, China.

Jakob, who is majoring in Computing and Information Studies at W&J, worked alongside Wang Sheng in the Passive House Technology Center, a multi-use office building that demonstrates some of Siemen’s efficient building management systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Jakob used skills in data visualization to help the Ecopark communicate the ultra-low emissions of the Passive House.

Samara, who is majoring in Financial Economics and International Business, worked alongside Operations Manager Wang Lurun in the Ecopark’s InterCity Hotel. Samara examined green building standards and the ways in which the EcoPark InterCity Hotel achieved them, as well as how the hotel communicates the benefits of going green to its clients.

Samara and Jake were advised on-site by W&J Environmental Studies faculty Robert East and James March. While in China Samara, Jake, Drs. East and March met with colleagues at Qingdao University including Professor of Economics, Dr. Tony Zhang and Dr. Wang Duo, Chairman of the Board of the Sino-German United Group. Dr. Zhang will visit W&J during the 2018-2019 academic year to lecture and discuss trade-related issues with the W&J community. In addition to working at the EcoPark, Samara and Jake made many new friends and visited Beijing and Shanghai. The experience was truly transformative and has enriched everyone’s views on environmental challenges and potential solutions in both China and back home at the college and within the region.

See photos from this adventure here.