Heyichen Xu, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Purdue School of School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering (SEE) earned first place in the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA) student poster competition.

Heyichen Xu conducts research on data quality in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

"As I am still in the early stage of my Ph.D.," said Heyichen Xu, "I have been building my knowledge through coursework, discussions with my advisor, reviewing literature, and exchanging ideas with peers. In addition to my research, I also serve as a teaching assistant for core courses in our program, which allows me to help in the classroom and further deepen my understanding of the subject matter."

The poster session was one of Heyichen Xu's favorite parts of the ACLCA conference.

"I had the chance to share my research with a wide range of people and receive thoughtful feedback and insights. These exchanges helped me see my work from new perspectives and sparked ideas for future directions. I also enjoyed the sense of community at the conference. Meeting other researchers who are passionate about improving data quality in LCA was very inspiring. As a student volunteer, I also helped with registration and setup, which gave me the opportunity to connect with many participants and feel more engaged in the event."

Heyichen Xu's winning research poster examined the problem of outdated industrial energy datasets in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Many widely used life cycle inventory (LCI) datasets still rely on industrial process energy data from the 1970s and 1980s, even though manufacturing energy efficiency has improved significantly since then.

Heyichen Xu elaborated, "I conducted three levels of analysis: (i) a bibliometric analysis showing how often legacy datasets are still cited directly or indirectly, (ii) a macro-level analysis using U.S. manufacturing data (1998–2018) to quantify declines in energy intensity across industries, and (iii) a micro-level comparison of process-specific data for sectors like dairy, meat packing, cement, glass, and soybean oil milling. The results highlight that relying on outdated datasets can distort environmental modeling and policy. My poster calls for more transparent documentation and updates to LCI databases, so that the community can make decisions based on accurate, temporally relevant data."

The ACLCA was the first opportunity that Heyichen Xu has had to showcase her research.

"This recognition means a great deal to me. It was my very first academic conference, so receiving 1st place in the poster competition was both an honor and a strong encouragement. I spent a lot of time revising my poster and benefited tremendously from the feedback and guidance of my advisor and labmates. To me, this award is not only a validation of my current research efforts but also a motivating reminder that the work we are doing, addressing the challenges of outdated datasets, is meaningful and valued by the broader LCA community."

Heyichen Xu highlighted the support of the Purdue School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering in her professional journey.

"What I value most about SEE is the supportive and collaborative environment. The faculty, staff, and students are all very approachable, helpful, and genuinely committed to creating an inclusive community. As an international student, I've felt warmly welcomed and encouraged, whether in navigating administrative matters, receiving mentorship in research, or exchanging ideas with peers. I especially appreciate the camaraderie within my cohort; it's a close-knit, encouraging group where I've learned a great deal both academically and personally."

For more information about Purdue's School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering, please visit: https://engineering.purdue.edu/SEE