“The sky is a canvas of dreams, where contrails weave tales above steelworks’ smokestacks.” As a child, I’d lie on the grass, tracing contrails, wondering where those planes were bound. Now, as an aerospace engineering student at the University of Sheffield, I’m no longer just watching the sky—I’m rewriting it. This autumn, I’ll chase that vision across the Atlantic, studying abroad for two semesters at the University of Oklahoma, with a commitment to a greener future.
This summer, I am joining Sheffield’s Energy 2050 research group through the SURE scheme, diving into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) alchemy. (https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/world-first-transatlantic-flight-using-sustainable-aviation-fuel-takes) My project? Blending ethanol and dimethyl ether (DME) into Jet-A fuel to reduce emissions without sacrificing thrust. Picture it: carbon monoxide, once a toxic byproduct from Sheffield’s steel mills, captured and transmuted into fuel through catalytic wizardry. It’s not just chemistry—it’s rebellion against waste—we are transforming what we once called “pollution” into propulsion. Using a swirl rig, I study how these blends combust, applying fuel sprays to simulate jet engine conditions.
Each test was a tiny victory: cleaner flames, a step toward skies unscarred by carbon.
(https://terc.ac.uk/news-events/worlds-first-transatlantic-flight-using-100-per-cent-sustainable-aviation-fuels-granted-permit-to-fly/)
Sheffield’s partnership with Virgin Atlantic powered the first 100% SAF transatlantic flight, and my rig work will to help reduce emissions at 35,000 feet— this feels like a piece of the sky in my hands
(https://terc.ac.uk/news-events/worlds-first-transatlantic-flight-using-100-per-cent-sustainable-aviation-fuels-granted-permit-to-fly/)
My journey to Oklahoma will be more than a flight—it’s a manifesto. I’ll board a Virgin Atlantic plane fuelled by SAF born in Sheffield’s labs.
(https://corporate.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/media/press-releases/worlds-first-sustainable-aviation-fuel-flight.html)
At Oklahoma, I will dive into courses on Propulsion and Principles of sustainability (https://www.coursicle.com/ou/courses/GEOG/3233/), blending Sheffield’s SAF expertise with American innovation. I’m eager to join OU’s Crimson & Green Commitment, to share Sheffield’s circular-economy gospel and spark workshops
(https://www.ou.edu/sustainability) I even plan to propose a hackathon for fellow OU students to design low-carbon aircraft, with OU’s renewable energy focus.
Sustainability, to me, is more than a buzzword; it’s the blueprint for the future of aviation. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are my compass, guiding me to live sustainably on Oklahoma’s campus (https://sdgs.un.org/goals). No matter how car-centric the USA is, I will swap petrol for pedal power. I’ll pedal a second-hand bike via OU’s VeoRide program, using repair stations at the BookStore or Lloyd Noble Center
(https://www.ou.edu/insideou/articles/2020/January/new-scooters-bikes-zip-to-ou-campus).
For weekend trips to Tulsa or Dallas, I’ll take buses or Amtrak trains, cutting emissions per SDG 13. I’ll also tackle OU’s recycling system, sorting plastics and paper precisely to support SDG 12, avoiding landfill waste.
This year abroad isn’t just about earning credits; it’s about building bridges—between nations, disciplines, and visions of a sustainable world. Through Sheffield and Oklahoma, I’m weaving a story of aviation that doesn’t scar the sky, but heals it. With every pedal stroke, every lecture, every lab experiment, I’m crafting a future where planes don’t just carry us to new places but carry us toward a greener planet. The contrails I once watched as a child? I want them to fade, not just from the sky, but from our conscience.
