Justin Rodriguez

Global Challenge: Can Long-Haul Commercial Aviation Realistically Achieve Net-Zero Emissions by 2050?

Justin is a rising sophomore at NYU Tandon School of Engineering pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. Originally from Ossining, NY, he chose mechanical engineering for the way it brings design, problem-solving, and hands-on building together. That interest was first sparked in middle school while tinkering with a broken laptop, he became fascinated by how it was designed and put together, and wanted to understand more about mechanical design and integration.

He went on to learn CAD and applied those skills to his robotics team, where turning sketches into working mechanisms convinced him this was the right field. Outside of engineering, Justin has a strong interest in photography and videography, and he enjoys the way creative and technical work sharpen the same eye for precision. He's also an avid hiker and lover of nature who tries to spend as much time as he can outdoors and immersed in the natural world.

At NYU, Justin works as an Office Assistant within NYU's Opportunity Programs. His most formative leadership came as Head of CAD/CAM for FRC Team 4122, where he built training curricula and mentored more than 30 students. He also designed multiple mechanisms for the robot and fabricated several custom parts.

Justin joined GLASS because it brings together his two strongest interests—engineering and equitable access to education—within a global context, and because studying at NYU London offers a chance to see how challenges and solutions take shape across different communities. As a GLASS scholar, he is most looking forward to working alongside peers and mentors who share a sense of global responsibility. The issue closest to him is UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education, because he has seen firsthand how language and access can decide whether a child ever sees themselves as belonging in STEM.