Engaging Undergraduates in Multidisciplinary Sustainability Research: A Focus on Green Hydrogen and Energy Systems Modelling
Academic Article in Scopus
This study investigates the "Research Internship"module within Tecnológico de Monterrey's TEC21 model, designed to immerse seventh-semester engineering undergraduates in a four-month, full-time sustainability research project. The module engaged four students from Sustainable Development and Mechanical Engineering, focusing on green hydrogen integration to advance Mexico's energy sustainability. Participants developed energy systems models using advanced tools to address decarbonization and the socio-economic impacts of hydrogen adoption. Divided into mentored and independent teams, students dedicated 40 hours per week to high-impact interdisciplinary research. Key outcomes included international conference presentations, two Q2-ranked journal articles (Impact Factor 4.7) as first authors, and an analysis of hydrogen's role in Mexico's transport and power sectors. Pre- and post-module surveys revealed significant growth in research confidence - rising from 2.5 to 4.2 on a 5-point scale - while 75% of participants found the topics highly engaging. Skill gains included data analysis, programming, mathematical modelling, and critical thinking. Despite the small sample size, these findings provide a framework for scaling research experiences to larger cohorts and exploring diverse challenges like circular economy practices and renewable energy integration. This work underscores the transformative potential of structured mentorship and interdisciplinary research in equipping undergraduates with the technical and collaborative skills necessary to address complex global sustainability challenges.
