Mercy Chado

I was part of a multidisciplinary team from the Rochester Institute of Technology exploring the impact of microplastic pollution in Lake Ontario. While plastic has been found to accumulate in floating patches in oceans, models have shown that plastics are more likely to accumulate in the benthic zone within lakes. The team used mathematical modeling, field surveys, fluid dynamics, genomic sequencing, and other experiments to look at how plastic is impacting the benthic zone and how wildlife and natural processes are transporting and further breaking down plastic. My role in this project involved engineering experimental rafts that were deployed in several aquatic environments. Using interval based microplastic sample collection, I calculated settling velocities for 5 different types of microplastics for comparison against mathematic models.

In the news

Multidisciplinary Senior Design | Systems Engineering & Communication

The Unified Sports Basketball Shot Trainer was an innovative project designed to analyze and improve basketball shooting techniques for athletes in the Special Olympics Unified Sports league. This portable, battery-operated prototype used non-intrusive body sensors to collect data on various aspects of a player’s shot, including arm trajectory, shot direction, and angle. The device analyzed these parameters and provided feedback to help players enhance their shooting accuracy and overall performance. By correlating shooting parameters to performance based on court position, the trainer offered tangible insights for improvement. The project aimed to not only improve shot accuracy but also boost the self-confidence of children with special needs participating in the Unified Sports league.