LEO Member Zaina Merchant Presents Research at the 2026 CMU Energy Week Poster Competition
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Zaina’s research titled “Clean Steel Development in Southern Africa: Air Quality, Climate, and Economic Impacts” was one of over 70 CMU student research projects entered in the 2026 CMU Energy Week Poster Competition! The abstract for her research is below.
Merchant shared:
“I had a great time presenting a poster at Energy Week! It was a wonderful opportunity to speak with other students, faculty, and industry professionals about my research. As a first-year student, I am grateful for the chance to hone my communication skills and receive valuable feedback.”
Congratulations, Zaina!
Abstract: Clean industrial development, including low-emissions production of iron and steel, has the potential to contribute to domestic economic growth in Southern Africa. Both the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) and electric arc furnace (EAF) routes are currently used for steel production in the region. BF-BOF steelmaking is a major emitter of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). Additionally, air pollutants are released into the atmosphere during steel production, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Ensuring emissions do not increase relative to pre existing levels and ideally decrease will be important. Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions drive climate change, while air pollutant emissions harm human health and ultimately contribute to premature mortality. A transition to more sustainable steel production pathways is imperative to meet global decarbonization goals, while fostering regional economic growth and protecting public health. We isolate PM2.5 pollution and premature mortalities associated with the steel industry in Southern Africa by using the Rapid Estimation of Air Concentrations for Health (REACH) model. REACH is a reduced-complexity model used for air quality modeling and policy assessment, as it outputs marginal social costs of air pollution and is less computationally intensive than traditional chemical transport models. The findings from this study can inform green industrial development in Southern Africa and help evaluate the costs and benefits of positioning the region as a global export hub for green iron and steel.
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