If you need any evidence of the impact of student research
on life at American University’s campus, look no further than something that’s
missing.
Trays.
Following a 2009 study at AU’s main dining hall showed a
significant reduction in food waste and dishes used when trays were removed,
trays have mostly gone the way of beanies and sock hops.
Now, for the first time, a new paper coauthored by AU
professor Kiho Kim and Stevia Morawski, BS environmental science ’12, provides
hard evidence of big energy savings as well as a 32 percent reduction in food
waste.