[pccgrads] Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) ACORN Project Opportunity

[UW Program on Climate Change: ACORN Projects]

Hello all,


We are still looking for interested graduate students and postdocs for two PCC
ACORN <https://pcc.uw.edu/research/acorn-program/> opportunities in
collaboration with Homeostasis Systems Corp, a carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
startup company.


ACORN projects are volunteer based with a *10-12hr per month* time
commitment. A potential funding opportunity is also listed below.


Graduate students and postdocs interested in either of these projects
should *respond with a CV and a brief (a few sentences) description of
their interest* in the project by *Friday, May 5th*.


Potential Homeostasis ACORN Projects:


Project 1: Passive vs Active CO2 Removal Box Analysis

Homeostasis Systems Corp is an early-stage CO2 removal startup that is
developing a mode of direct air capture (DAC) that does not require forced
air flow. Conventional (active) DAC makes use of large arrays of fans to
pump air across their contactors, expending an additional 15-35% of energy
on an already energy intensive process. A growing school of thought sees
passive DAC as a more effective solution. Homeostasis would like to study
the macro effects of this passive DAC paradigm on atmospheric CO2 levels,
relative to that of active DAC systems. Until multiple at-scale DAC systems
are operational, quantitative comparisons can only be achieved via
modeling. Homeostasis is interested in working with one or more graduate
student(s) as an ACORN project team to build such a model. They are open to
the types of skill sets and knowledge bases that could assist with this
effort, though imagine a background in atmospheric box modeling  and/or
fluid mechanics would be ideal.



Project 2: CO2 to Graphite Process Life Cycle Analysis

Homeostasis Systems Corp is an early-stage CO2 removal & utilization (CDRU)
startup that is developing a process that removes and reduces atmospheric
CO2 into carbonaceous products (namely, carbon black & graphite). It is
vital for CDRU organizations to build and regularly perform Carbon Life
Cycle Analyses (LCA) to ensure they are having the effects on atmospheric
carbon that they proport. Homeostasis has created a preliminary LCA model,
and is looking to revisit and refine this model with the help of one or
more graduate student(s) familiar with this type of analysis or willing to
learn about LCA independently as an ACORN project team.

*Potential Funding Opportunity:*
While ACORN cannot directly offer any funding for volunteers, interested
students may submit a proposal for the PCC Climate Solutions Project funding
<https://pcc.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/ClimateSolutions_RFP.pdf>.
This funding is “to support graduate students engaged in the Program on
Climate Change in applying their climate-science knowledge to
solutions-based projects, capstone programs, and outreach efforts with
community organizations and partners to help them gain experience outside
academia.” The application for funding is rather concise and ACORN projects
already fulfill many of the requirements. Proposals are reviewed on a
rolling basis, so students can feel free to apply before or after they
express interest in an ACORN project.

-- 
Acorn Project Team
Program on Climate Change
University of Washington
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