Sustainability Spotlight: Benedetta Zuccarelli, MDes ’25

Benedetta Zuccarelli is graduating from Harvard School of Design in May 2025 with her Master in Design Studies – Ecologies (MDes.) focusing on sustainability and the data science. During her time at Harvard, Benedetta became involved in campus sustainability initiatives and programs, including the Office for Sustainability’s Council for Student Sustainability Leaders (CSSL). Learn more about Benedetta’s experience at Harvard.

How are you involved in working with the Office for Sustainability?

“Since fall 2024, I have been part of the Council of Student Sustainability Leaders (CSSL). During this time, I also received a Student Grant from the Harvard Office for Sustainability to advance a project focused on micro-algae and indoor air quality. As part of the initiative, I am currently organizing a symposium to engage the broader community around these topics.”

What is your best memory working in sustainability at Harvard?

“One of the most meaningful experiences has been organizing an upcoming symposium on the future of homes, supported by the Office for Sustainability. The event brings together student-led projects exploring indoor air quality, sensing technologies, and biomaterials, imagining how our living spaces might evolve in response to environmental and human needs. At the same time, being part of the Council of Student Sustainability Leaders has been a constant source of energy and connection. Through in-person meetings and events, I have had the chance to exchange ideas with students from across Harvard and learn from speakers working at the forefront of climate and sustainability. These conversations, grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose, have reminded me how powerful community can be in driving meaningful change.”

What other sustainability-related experiences did you have on campus or beyond during your time at Harvard?

“As a student in the MDes Ecologies program, sustainability has been at the core of my academic journey. One of the most impactful experiences began in the ‘Data Science for Environmentally Responsive Buildings’ course at the GSD, where I explored how sensor technology can help us better understand and improve indoor air quality. What started as a class project has since grown into a year-long research initiative, supported by a Harvard grant and developed in collaboration with other university partners. We are currently testing low-cost sensing systems in student dormitories to explore how data can inform healthier and more energy-efficient living spaces. This experience has not only advanced my research but also strengthened my commitment to integrating environmental performance and human well-being in the design process.”

What were the most inspiring sustainability topics you learned about at Harvard?

“Some of the most inspiring sustainability topics I have engaged with at Harvard include the use of machine learning and data science to inform design decisions and improve environmental performance. Learning how data can shape more responsive buildings and healthier indoor environments has transformed the way I approach architecture. I have also been deeply influenced by the exploration of biomaterials and living systems, particularly their potential to redefine materiality, adaptability, and the relationship between humans and the built environment. In addition, the study of environmental restoration in cities, including ecological infrastructure and strategies for social and climate resilience, has offered a powerful lens to reimagine urban development as a tool for regeneration.”