Laureen Franco

I am an Environmental Engineering student at FIU. I’m passionate about biomimicry and exploring how natural systems can inspire the way we design, solve environmental challenges, and approach remediation. I want to bridge engineering and nature to create innovative solutions that are not only effective, but also more sustainable.

• MDC - Presidential Scholars
• MDC - Stem-mia
• Florida Ready to Work (FRTW) Soft Skills Certification

• Kensington Park Elementary PTA, Volunteer, 2023-10-26, 2023-10-26, Volunteered for 6 hours at the fall festival, In charge of making sure children in line for the bouncy house slide were wearing wristbands and going down one by one, Made sure none of the children were pushing each other or getting hurt
• MDC ICC Beach Cleanup, Volunteer, 2024-01-12, 2024-01-12, Clean Miami Beach, Inter Miami Club, and MDC SGA collaborated to do a beach cleanup to commemorate MLK day, Received rubber gloves, a bucket, and a trash picker to pick up trash around South Point Beach, Measured how many pounds of trash were picked up (a lot of which was plastic), Learned that much of the plastic comes from neighboring countries like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Cuba, and The Bahamas, Learned that reducing plastic waste can be achieved by avoiding straws, using reusable straws, and using reusable bags
• Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Lenny and Penny Thompson Pineland Preserve, Volunteer, 2024-01-15, 2024-01-15, Learned that Pindo Palm trees are highly flammable and adapted to being burned, Observed invasive vine-like plants that kill plants they engulf, Pulled out vine-like plants by the roots and collected trash found between plants, Went on a 10-minute hike where James discussed other native plants in the preserve
• Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Matheson Hammock Preserve, Volunteer, 2024-01-19, 2024-01-19, Planted trees in Matheson Hammock Preserve for national Arbor Day (goal: plant 300 trees throughout the year), Planted 2 different types of native trees, Went on a small 10-minute hike to learn about plant species and rocks pushed to the land from bodies of water, Participated in activities with tables from organizations EEL works with, placing pictures of native and non-native species into the correct category

• Stem-mia Group Presentation Research, Built problem-solving skills, Strengthen public speaking skills, Improved ability to work as a group and exchange information, Time management, Research skills
• FIU John Kominoski's Ecology Lab - Research Student Assistant, Assisted a Post Doctoral Associate with a project focused on soil sample collection in mangrove sites, Went to the field to collect samples, Labeled vials, weigh boats, and ziplock bags, Weighed both weigh boats and dried samples, Grinded samples