Kareem Rabbat

Kareem RabbatIf you talk to Kareem Rabbat (ENG ’20) for more than a few minutes, you will most likely hear him passionately use the words “sustainability” and “equity.”

“I want to be on the ground helping to institute appropriate technology in developing countries so they can have access to clean water, electricity, roads, and other infrastructure without degrading the environment,” Kareem said.

His passion drove him to pursue a degree in environmental engineering at the Swanson School of Engineering. While in school, he participated in the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation undergraduate summer research grant program through which he searched for bacteria and fungi that could solve persistent pollution problems.

In his spare time, Kareem and a group of students used another grant to convert a shipping container into a hydroponics system. The project features a greenhouse on the roof and a biodigester fueled by food waste collected from local sources inside.

“The University of Pittsburgh has provided me opportunities to explore ecological engineering and bio systems engineering both inside and outside of the classroom in ways that help me understand how I can make a difference in the world.” Kareem said.