Honors' Julian Reyes is Seeing Green
In 2000, Germany collected and recycled more than five million tons of recyclable commercial packaging material using their simple “Green Dot” system. Today, that color-coding recycling system has grown more complex. And, this summer an Honors College student is studying abroad on a project that could possibly improve the system.
Regent Scholar Julian Reyes, an Honors College sophomore and civil engineering major, will be working on measuring the lifespan of a scan code which is placed on recyclable goods, such as plastic bottles. It allows machines to scan and sort through recyclables, speeding up the process and furthering benefits to the environment in a country where 40 percent of the people regularly recycle.
He will travel to the University of Kassel in northern Germany shortly after spring semester ends at WSU to participate in that country's prestigious Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program. It gives science students the chance to spend significant time working with German doctoral students on serious research projects.
The internship is further evidence that Reyes' interest in expanding his international and cultural awareness has grown since he came to WSU. In high school in Renton, he had studied Spanish. In summer 2007, he traveled to Madrid, Barcelona, Toledo, and Valencia in Spain on an Honors College faculty-led study abroad program to view and study Spain's artistic traditions.
He became interested in the German foreign language when his Honors advisor, Senior Honors Faculty Fellow R. Wes Leid, told him that it is always beneficial to try something new; Reyes signed up for a German class from Associate Professor Rachel Halverson, who also teaches in Honors where she is a Faculty Fellow.
“It is important to know a foreign language, especially in my field, because America is finally realizing that it must become global--America isn't the only country in the world -- and the only way Americans can do this is by learning foreign languages,” says Reyes.
He hopes to use his engineering education to help the environment when he graduates.
Study abroad and becoming more of a global citizen has been one of many enjoyable parts of Reyes' WSU experience. He immediately fell in love with the residential campus and close-knit community. He also enjoys the Honors College.
“I've never before had the opportunity to become such good friends with my professors, and thanks to the Honors College and its smaller classes, I have been able to do so.”
--by Merik Metos
Honors College sophomore
.jpg)
Professor Halverson: “Wohin mit den Flaschen, die wieder verwertet werden sollten, Julian?”
Herr Reyes: “Diese Umweltkatastrophe werde ich im Sommer als RISE Praktikant in Deutschland aufs Korn nehmen.”