January 23, 2024
Dr. Stephen Lee (assistant professor, Department of Computer Science) received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for his project, “Data-Driven System-Design for Sustainable Long-Lasting Distributed Infrastructures,” on Oct. 1, 2023. The standard grant was issued for $522,995.000, with the project estimated to be completed in September 2026.
The project will develop sustainable computing systems by minimizing carbon emissions. As the demand and use of computing systems have increased, so have carbon emissions. Unfortunately, current energy efficient systems may still produce significant emissions, which is where Lee’s research enters the picture.
“We are thinking about how to design strategies for computing systems to operate on renewable energy, which will reduce emissions,” said Lee.
Extending the lifespan of computing systems is a significant sustainability effort within the project. Lee’s research aims to develop new mechanisms to promote longevity of computing systems by optimizing energy usage.
“We are working on lifespan management policies to develop mechanisms within the system to essentially be emission aware and lifespan aware so that we can now use the system for longer periods, but also use it on cleaner energy,” Lee explained. “For example, if you buy an iPhone or iPad, the cost of manufacturing it is x amount of emissions, which remains the same for as long as you use it. If you use it for 10 years instead of two or four years, the fewer emissions you cause from the manufacturing of that device.”
The project will also introduce sustainability principles into undergraduate and graduate curriculum. New capstone projects will be offered to undergraduate students to provide hands-on experience with sustainable systems. Prototypes of the sustainable distributed infrastructures will also be introduced in high school summer programs. The project’s efforts to disseminate the research will introduce new distributed infrastructures, which will promote sustainability for both consumers and the planet.
Read more about the grant and project here.
--Alyssa Morales