In the summer of 2026, the FinEst Centre has once again the joy of hosting two interns from Stanford University.

Interns are visiting Estonia through the Stanford Baltics Exchange Program, coordinated by Vabamu.

The third consecutive internship is part of an ongoing effort to build continuous collaboration between the smart cities’ research community between Stanford and Estonia.

This summer, one of our interns, Morgan, is passionate about sustainable architecture, engineering, and urban innovation. Morgan is working on the TayuTech pilot while exploring how research-based solutions can improve cities. We asked Morgan about the journey from California to Tallinn, the internship experience so far, and the future of sustainable urban design.

Read to learn about her journey and what inspires her studies.

How do your studies connect to smart cities, sustainability, or urban innovation?

The curriculum of my Sustainable Architecture and Engineering major requires several quarters of classes in subjects such as sustainable design practice and energy efficient buildings. I also chose one of my “depth” requirements to be on sustainable cities, which teaches the history of city development through technological and environmental lenses, as well as more technical skills such as life cycle assessments.

What made you interested in spending your summer in Estonia and at the FinEst Centre for Smart Cities?

I was interested in the FinEst Centre’s breadth in pilot projects that, if given the opportunity, would allow me to dive into a technological solution to an urban challenge.

I also quickly learned that the FinEst Centre has a rapid turnaround time for their pilot projects that in combination with Estonia’s e-governance could see prompt implementation of the project’s product after its first pilot. This uniquely fast process made me realize that interning in Estonia at the FinEst Centre would be the perfect place to spend my summer helping improve an aspect of urban life and be able to look forward to seeing how that solution is implemented in the near future.

What projects are you currently working on, and what have you learned from them so far?

I am working on the TayuTech pilot project, designing and testing the box to encase the hardware that collects air quality data when installed in public service vehicles.

So far, I have learned how to use a new (to me) 3D modeling software, OnShape, and how to face new design problems. For example, how to ensure the box does not disrupt the airflow required for data collection, especially compared to the prototype.

If you could solve one urban challenge anywhere in the world, what would it be and why? 

I would solve the severe carbon emissions, material depletion, and waste generation caused by building construction. I think implementing a cycle of sustainable building practices on a massive, worldwide scale would be the most beneficial way to cut global carbon emissions and raw material consumption.