Addressing challenges in today’s complex world often requires expertise in multiple academic disciplines. Around 20% of our MBA students are pursuing a joint or dual degree. One of these is the MS in Environment and Resources/MBA. This joint degree integrates knowledge from the MBA curriculum with a background in the science, engineering, and technology that underlie environmental problems.
At the end of the fall quarter, our MBA/MS students presented Capstone Projects that showcase interdisciplinary knowledge being applied to current issues. The Feigenbaum-Nii Foundation Prize is awarded each quarter to the student or group of students whose project demonstrates interdisciplinary excellence.
This quarter’s MBA/MS Capstone Projects showed a broad range of exploration. Projects considered problems around the world from Brazil to Russia to the U.S. They also crossed sectors and industries addressing issues in policy, agriculture, hospitality, construction, and retail, to name a few. Over half of the nine projects presented solutions through entrepreneurial products or services developed by the students themselves.
Congratulations to Marc Manara MBA ’13, Kerem Alper MBA ’13, and Mark Wittman MBA ’13, who were awarded the Feigenbaum-Nii Foundation Prize for their project! The team contrasted the carbon emission impact of their organic food delivery service, Kincao, with the potential environmental impact of running a brick and mortar alternative. The team concluded that their startup, which has delivered over 4000 meals since launching four months ago, saves tens of thousands of vehicle miles.
Professor Feigenbaum with MS in Environment and Resources/MBA students.The full list of capstone projects and participants is available online here.