Sustainability Minor Series: Mara Iris Dumitru

What inspired you to pursue a Sustainability Minor at Minerva? How do you see it complementing your Computational Sciences major? 

I am a Computational Sciences major at Minerva University, particularly interested in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence applications. I always felt I would go into a computer science-related field because of my background in mathematics. It always seemed like a logical path, since I enjoy working with numbers and thought it might be something I am good at. However, it is important to me that my work carries meaning. Whatever field I choose, I want to feel needed and know that I am making a real difference in the world. I am particularly passionate about sustainability because it moves beyond a purely profit-driven perspective and instead emphasizes humanitarian and environmental well-being. This way, what I do with numbers is not just about pooling more money or building another app, but about scaling innovation without harming the planet – reducing microplastics in the ocean or making summers a little less unbearably hot, for example.

Why do you think it is essential for future leaders to understand the long-term impact of sustainable decision-making?

When it comes to innovation, incorporating sustainability is essential. We live in a world with finite resources but infinite human imagination and ambition to grow. Often, resources simply cannot keep up with human ambition. One prominent example is the rapid development of AI technologies: To train models and process prompts, AI companies rely on massive data centers that consume vast amounts of water and energy. Thus, looking at the long-term impact of sustainable decision-making and implementing resources or legislation to reduce environmental damage should not only protect ecosystems but also sustain the very resources innovation depends on, allowing progress to continue without hitting hard ecological limits.

Have you participated in any civic projects or internships related to sustainability? How did those experiences complement your coursework in the minor?‍

This summer, I interned at the Tokyo Sustainability AI Lab, where I partnered with Blue Ocean Initiative (BOI) to track the origins of plastic waste reaching Tsushima Island. Tsushima is a hotspot for plastic waste accumulation because of its location between Japan and Korea. However, current collection methods are ineffective since the beaches where the plastic piles up are small and structurally challenging, making machine use difficult. Currently, only about 30% of accumulated plastic can be collected with available manpower. I proposed intercepting plastics before they reach the island using technologies like The Ocean Cleanup’s System 001. BOI had already considered collaborating with The Ocean Cleanup and even had a proposed mission, but it was canceled because they lacked accurate data on the geographic sources of the plastics. My work involved using satellite data from the CYGNSS telescope, which applies LIDAR technology to create spatial maps of microplastic concentrations. I developed models to improve microplastic collection and scale toward macroplastic predictions. Specifically, I built a ConvLSTM model with a spatiotemporal component to forecast concentrations up to 14 days ahead. I then implemented an occlusion model over the pretrained network to identify which regions most influence Tsushima’s pollution, helping determine correlation factors across locations. I plan to integrate this AI model with a physical simulation tool called Plastic Parcels, which uses Navier-Stokes-based derivations to model plastic flow, aiming to establish causal relationships between regions.

Last semester, I took a design course as part of the Sustainability Minor, where I learned to apply iterative, user-centered approaches to problem-solving. During my meetings with BOI, I used this knowledge of design thinking to develop practical solutions for Tsushima’s situation. This semester, I am continuing this project on the side and exploring potential collaborations with the University of Tokyo research team and The Ocean Cleanup to push it even further.

Looking ahead, is there an area of sustainability you feel especially drawn to or passionate about exploring?‍

I am particularly passionate about exploring the intersection of technology and sustainability – both how technology can advance sustainability and how sustainability principles can enhance technological development. For instance, my summer work on marine microplastic prediction and tracking showed how technology can significantly contribute to environmental solutions. I am also very interested in making artificial intelligence more sustainable. AI requires massive data centers that consume enormous amounts of energy and freshwater, and long-term scaling could be limited by these sustainability factors, which is an area worth exploring.

If you are looking for a university that empowers you to turn computational skills into global impact, start your Minerva application today.

‍