ChE MS Thesis Defense: Sofia Roger

Name: Sofia Roger

Title: Development and Evaluation of Learning Tool for a Global Review of Mineral Commodities

Date: 04/08/2026

Time: 12:00:00 PM

Committee Members:
Prof. Luke Landherr (Advisor)
Prof. Joshua Gallaway
Prof. Alexis Prybutok

Location: Ryder 205

Abstract:
Engineering is a highly collaborative, intersectional practice that depends on transforming raw materials. Despite this relationship, it is difficult to explain how engineers’ decisions in industrial settings affect the rest of the world. The consequences of sourcing materials for technological advancement may not always be explicit. The effects of engineers consuming material can have cascading consequences or be so removed that they fall outside design concerns. To promote discussion of the socioeconomic effects of raw material consumption in engineering, this work aimed to develop a website-based learning tool, www.wherematerialscomefrom.com. The tool provides context on the mining processes used to obtain raw materials. Through survey data collection, the tool was evaluated for its ability to help users understand how raw materials are acquired.

Sofia Roger completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University and has since decided to pursue her master’s also in Chemical Engineering as part of Northeastern’s plus one program. She completed two co-ops, during which she participated in the research and design of solid-state sulfur-chalcogen batteries at Avanti Battery Co. and the development of conductive ceramic for high-temperature reactor design at Lydian Labs. Her experience in materials engineering for sustainable technology motivated her to explore which environmentally sound raw materials can be used to innovate. This motivation gave rise to the educational tool developed in her thesis work.