To provide insights into sustainability, Tim Langdon, publisher of Eco Voice, had the pleasure of facilitating a Q&A with Tanya Morton Director, Customer Success Engineering at MathWorks.

Q1. How do you integrate Diversity & Inclusion into your sustainability strategy?

MathWorks has initiatives for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Social Mission (including Green Initiatives), and Sustainability. These initiatives are inter-related and mutually supportive, with good links between the teams who work on them. We actively seek out projects that benefit both Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability. For example, we support student competitions such as the EcoCar EV Challenge, where student teams are rewarded for identifying and addressing specific issues related to equity in mobility. This year, a team of women at MathWorks supported the development of a workshop on Electric Vehicles at the Grace Hopper Celebration. In addition, we regularly support the WiDS (Women in Data Science) Datathon, which had climate-related themes in 2022 and 2023.

The EcoCAR EV Challenge

MathWorks at the 2024 Grace Hopper Celebration

Weather Forecasting in MATLAB for the WiDS Datathon 2023

Building Regression Models: A Tutorial for the WiDS Datathon 2022

Q2.  What sustainable technology development is there in the realm of AI and EVs?

Transport is a key sector contributing to global greenhouse gases, and the development of EVs to electrify cars is an important contributor to sustainability, due to their zero tailpipe emissions. AI is a key enabler of EV development, for example, through the application of machine learning to accurately predict battery state of charge. An accurate on-board estimate of state of charge is important to maximize vehicle range and reduce range anxiety.

Q3. How does AI assist with sustainability and renewable energy?

AI has many applications to sustainability and renewable energy. For example, AI supports the efficient operation of renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines, via predictive maintenance. The Korea Institute of Energy Research used AI to predict the remaining useful life of wind farm components with over 90% accuracy, helping to reduce unnecessary maintenance costs. AI can also help with the understanding of the impacts of climate change, for example, a team of university researchers used machine learning to predict droughts in Ethiopia. You can even apply reinforcement learning, a type of AI learning, to increase the efficiency of recycling PET bottles.

Korea Institute of Energy Research Develops AI-Based Predictive Maintenance Models for Offshore Wind Power

Coupling machine learning methods with wavelet transforms and the bootstrap and boosting ensemble approaches for drought prediction

Krones AG Builds Reinforcement Learning–Based Process Control in the Blow Molder Contiloop AI for PET and rPET Bottles

Q4. How does collaboration, innovation, and action drive meaningful change?

Without widespread climate action, no change is possible. The climate crisis is here and is increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods. We all have a part to play through considering sustainability in the choices we make in our lives, and by accelerating system-level change in the domains where we have influence.

Innovation is critical to tackling climate change. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the world needs to generate electricity from renewable sources, and to use electricity rather than fossil fuels where possible. This requires a transformation of all industry sectors, including transport, buildings, and heavy industry. Engineers and innovation are critical in the energy transition and electrification of everything.

Collaboration is key to driving meaningful change. Collaborative projects can arise between universities and their industry partners, both of which are keen to increase the supply of skilled engineers who are equipped and ready to work on industry challenges such as the development of Electric Vehicles. MathWorks supports universities and their partners to develop curriculum.

Bosch and National Institute of Technology Calicut Collaborate on EV Course to Prepare Students for Industry – MATLAB & Simulink

Q5.  How can Universities better prepare students in terms of sustainability?

Many universities are working to integrate sustainability into student learning. Approaches taken include student projects and student competitions. Student projects can be on challenges such as coastal changes due to sea level rise, predictive maintenance of wind turbines, and the electrification of home heating. MathWorks provides a list of 19 student challenges on sustainability and renewable energy on github. Supporting student teams to participate in student competitions such as the EcoCar EV challenge and the World Solar Challenge is another way that universities can help prepare students to work on sustainable technology development.

GitHub – mathworks/MATLAB-Simulink-Challenge-Project-Hub

Setting a World Speed Record with a Student-Designed Solar Electric Vehicle

Q6. How can publications, such as Eco Voice, play their part in promoting sustainability?

Publications can help people appreciate the importance of sustainability to protect people and planet. They can amplify important work happening in sustainability, raise awareness of the opportunities to drive sustainable growth, and help attract more people to work on pressing world problems such as climate change.

MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. MATLAB, the language of engineers and scientists, is a programming environment for algorithm development, data analysis, visualization, and numeric computation. Simulink is a block diagram environment for simulation and Model-Based Design of multidomain and embedded engineering systems. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on these products to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development in automotive, aerospace, communications, electronics, industrial automation, and other industries. MATLAB and Simulink are fundamental teaching and research tools in the world’s top universities and learning institutions. Founded in 1984, MathWorks employs more than 6,000 people in more than 34 offices around the world, with headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. For additional information, visit mathworks.com.