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Students in the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle School of Engineering aren’t just learning about energy and environmental engineering in the classroom — they’re building global skills in the field with the National Science Foundation’s , an initiative that helps undergraduates develop the cultural awareness and technical expertise to engineer impactful global solutions.

This summer, students at ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle teamed up with the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL) and Colorado School of Mines for a four-week research project in Medellín, Colombia, exploring novel ways to monitor, capture, and utilize methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from underground coal production.

With the IRES, students worked alongside university researchers and local miners, installing and monitoring specialized methane detection equipment, such as metal-oxide semiconductor sensors and weather stations, across multiple mineshafts. According to Sergio Escudero, a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at ¾«¶«´«Ã½, the work goes beyond academic research and is as much about social impact as it is about engineering innovation and energy resilience.

“We’re trying to reduce methane emission pollution and create value using something we’re wasting every day,” Restrepo explained. “Methane from coal mines is released into the atmosphere, contaminating the environment. By capturing and reusing it, we are creating a new resource for society – turning this waste into energy.”

Professor Kathleen Smits and PhD student Sergio Restrepo installing environmental and hydrocarbon gas monitoring sensors in a mine shaft to analyze greenhouse gas emissions. Using a remote sensor network, environmental and gas emission data was collected and analyzed over a four-week period throughout the mine.

This mindset reflects a growing focus in global energy resilience – designing systems that not only reduce environmental harm but also bring tangible benefits to communities. Through week-long fieldwork rotations, Lyle students participated in 24-hour data collection cycles, learning how to collaborate with mining engineers and company staff in Medellín. Every measurement and sensor placement required cross-cultural coordination and trust.

Lyle student Kevin Sumpon, a rising junior in civil engineering, is experiencing this cross-cultural collaboration firsthand. “I’ve learned a lot in my time here – not just technical skills, but also adaptability and how to work with people outside my own culture and language,” Sumpon explained.

 
¾«¶«´«Ã½ undergraduate student Kevin Sumpon and Colorado School of Mines undergraduate student Shelby Gilson suit up for collecting data from the sensor network.

The IRES project brings together leading voices in environmental engineering — including ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle, the Colorado School of Mines, and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia Medellín – to develop the next generation of civil and environmental engineers, armed with the technical and cultural competency to develop impactful humanitarian solutions.

¾«¶«´«Ã½ students Kevin Sumpton and Sergio Restrepo working in one of the mines.

When students returned to ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle, they brought back more than technical skills, including the ability to work collaboratively across languages, disciplines, and industries. The chance for real-world global experience is what differentiates engineering education at Lyle, preparing students to contribute meaningfully to international efforts in energy resilience, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

“I invite other students to join IRES,” Sumpon emphasized. “I think the skills I’ve learned here are very important in my future career as a civil engineer.”

Applications are open through November to join the next cohort of students interested in engineering international humanitarian solutions. The experience is open to graduate and undergraduate students across engineering disciplines.

To learn more about the IRES program and global engineering opportunities at the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle School of Engineering, visit .

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
¾«¶«´«Ã½’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About ¾«¶«´«Ã½
¾«¶«´«Ã½ is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. ¾«¶«´«Ã½’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.