Back to all articles
Peecycling Education Updates: Hands-on Lab, Urban Hydrolink, and Co-Design
We hosted an activity day for Pathways to STEM, a California-based science exploration program for undergraduates. Like last year, students rotated through a series of hands-on stations to explore key aspects of urine recycling. They conducted lab work to measure ammonia volatilization from urine, comparing rates between bio-acidified and non-acidified samples. Students also learned the chemistry behind struvite precipitation—a process that creates a valuable phosphorus fertilizer. They also conducted nutrient testing with our Vermiponics system (from Dark Nectar Cooperative) and learned about fertilization methods in our demonstration garden.
A new highlight this year was the Urban Hydrolink, a fully functioning water and wastewater infrastructure model designed by our partner Hayley Joyell Smith. The Hydrolink allows students to visualize the movement of water through urban and natural systems—from river to river—and demonstrates how urine diversion can work in tandem with conventional sanitation to prevent nutrient pollution and conserve water.
In other education news, we visited Dublin School as part of their Earth Day festivities, presenting about our work and hosting a Youth-Led Peecycling Project Design Activity. Putney School ran their Pee Lab (as presented at our 2025 Summit) once again, and we’re now also exploring possibilities for a toilet installation on campus! We also hosted a tour for students in the Brattleboro Union High School Food Connects Farm to School after school program.
If you’re interested in bringing peecycling education to your school, please reach out to Julia Cavicchi at to explore options.
