Three teams in senior lecturer Susan Murcott’s D-Lab class (jointly taught with Alice Amsden), “Disseminating Innovations for the Common Good,” won prizes at the MIT IDEAS Competition May 3. The Grease Project team, which includes CEE seniors Sara Barnowski and Samantha Fox, received a $3,000 award for its project to improve the livelihood of catadores, who collect waste vegetable oil in Brazil. With a network of partners, the team designed an inexpensive, low-tech conversion method that allows diesel vehicles to run on waste vegetable oil. The team combined the technology with training workshops and a novel dissemination plan. My City, My Future received a $3,000 award for developing innovative ways to empower youth in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. PieceMeal Vendors won the $1,000 Community Choice Award for designing hygienic, stable and affordable street vendor carts. Read more.