Undergraduate Students /even/ en Meet Our Undergrads: Mia Lonergan /even/2024/03/22/meet-our-undergrads-mia-lonergan <span>Meet Our Undergrads: Mia Lonergan </span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-03-22T14:57:41-06:00" title="Friday, March 22, 2024 - 14:57">Fri, 03/22/2024 - 14:57</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/mia_lonergan.jpg?h=48371a8f&amp;itok=U7XPsMes" width="1200" height="600" alt="Mia Lonergan "> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-row-subrow row"> <div class="ucb-article-text col-lg d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>We sat down with graduating fourth-year environmental engineering student Mia Lonergan to share about her CU Engineering experience! Mia has served as treasurer for the CU Boulder Society of Women Engineers (SWE) during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.</p><p><strong>What inspired you to pursue engineering or STEM in general?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>I always had a love for math and chemistry. I was always interested in understanding how things worked and why certain objects could function. This helped to align my interests in technology with STEM and pursue a career in engineering.</p><p><strong>When did you know you wanted to study environmental engineering?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>I was heavily involved in 4H in elementary, middle and high school. Being part of the organization fostered my interest in sustainability and the needs of the future. I knew I wanted to study environmental engineering, as it offered a focus on energy conversion. Specifically, I wanted to pursue a career in the renewable energy sector, leading me to later pursue a minor in energy engineering in addition to my degree.</p><p><strong>What challenges do you hope environmental engineering can solve in the future?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>I hope that environmental engineering can solve the energy crisis in the future, assisting in a clean transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Fossil fuels will always be used for transportation and electricity generation. However, incorporating a larger ratio of renewable energy like wind, solar, microgrids and hydrogen, will allow us to shift to a cleaner future.</p><p><strong>What stood out to you about CU Boulder as you considered college options?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>CU Boulder stood out to me when I considered college options, as it offered both beauty and brains. I was interested in attending a university with a top-ranked engineering program that offered networking opportunities, resources for students and active hands-on learning experiences. CU Engineering offered various opportunities to make connections with other students, professors and industry professionals.&nbsp;</p><p>Specifically, the <a href="/engineering/bold" rel="nofollow">BOLD Center</a> stuck out to me as it offers resources, tutoring, networking, professional development, student society involvement, and more to underrepresented students in engineering. Finally, Boulder offers plenty of outdoor activities including hiking and snowboarding nearby: two of my favorite hobbies. Not to mention, you can’t beat the view of the Flatirons every morning!</p><p><strong>What are some of your memorable experiences at CU Engineering?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Some of my memorable experiences at CU Engineering include participating in the Mechanical Engineering Senior Design project on the CU Buffwind Team. It has been an amazing experience contributing to a project that will be presented at the Department of Energy NREL Collegiate Wind Competition this May. Another memorable experience included participating in BuffProjects where I got to work with a group of students on an industry project. Finally, I have been heavily involved in the Society of Women Engineers where I unlocked countless experiences and connections.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>What are your favorite aspects of being involved with SWE?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>My favorite aspects of being involved with SWE include mentorships, networking opportunities, industry exposure and the opportunity to meet women and other minorities in both STEM and engineering fields here at CU.&nbsp;</p><p>Our mentorship program has connected me with various undergraduate students as well as fostered connections with industry mentors. I have had the opportunity to network with 50+ companies here on campus and 200+ companies at both national and local conferences through the CU Boulder Society of Women Engineers.&nbsp;</p><p>This is my second year serving on the executive board as treasurer. It has allowed me to partake in SWE on both a national and local level and assist the section in achieving our goals. SWE has truly transformed my experience at the University of Colorado Boulder.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Why should someone consider joining SWE?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Someone should consider joining SWE if they want to meet new people within the school of engineering; practice networking; partake in STEM-related activities with younger audiences including elementary school students, middle school students, high school students, and Girl Scouts; travel to national and local conferences where you can meet engineers of all ages in all industries; partake in professional development; or do a fun activity with other students at one of our weekly meetings!&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Are you involved with other student organizations on campus?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>During my time here at CU, I have participated in Engineers Without Borders Rwanda, the Society of Environmental Engineers, the CU Energy Club and currently the CU Wind Energy Club.</p><p><strong>What are your plans after graduation?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>I plan to take some time to travel during the summer before starting with Mortenson as a wind energy group field engineer on their wind team. I look forward to working on-site during the construction of wind farms.</p></div></div></div></div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-right col-lg"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script> window.location.href = `/engineering/2024/03/19/meet-our-undergrads-mia-lonergan`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:57:41 +0000 Anonymous 4948 at /even Three students earn American Water Works Association scholarships /even/2023/08/11/three-students-earn-american-water-works-association-scholarships <span>Three students earn American Water Works Association scholarships</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-08-11T09:43:23-06:00" title="Friday, August 11, 2023 - 09:43">Fri, 08/11/2023 - 09:43</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/trio_1.png?h=7d160ae0&amp;itok=VNtZctiP" width="1200" height="600" alt="The three winners."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/54" hreflang="en">Scholarships</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-row-subrow row"> <div class="ucb-article-text col-lg d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>Three University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Engineering graduate students have earned 2023 scholarships through the <a href="https://www.awwa.org/Membership-Volunteering/Students-Young-Professionals/AWWA-Scholarships" rel="nofollow">American Water Works Association (AWWA).</a></p><p><strong>Emma Wells </strong>(Advisors: <a href="/ceae/amy-javernick-will" rel="nofollow">Amy Javernick-Will</a> and <a href="/even/node/271" rel="nofollow">Karl Linden</a>) is recipient of the HDR One Water Institute Scholarship. Her work focuses on water quality and utility risk management. She says that her research is only successful through collaboration and she will use the scholarship funding while “working with operators, regulators, and utility management to understand their experiences with risk management. I will use these funds to meet with my partners and collect data.&nbsp; I hope that my work can be used to support utilities as they navigate ever-changing environmental, regulatory, and technical contexts to provide safe water"</p><p><strong>Nadia Jorgensen</strong> (Advisor: <a href="/even/node/126" rel="nofollow">Scott Summers</a>), recipient of the Holly A. Cornell scholarship from Jacobs, says the scholarship will help with her future plans. “I hope to continue evaluating granular active carbon performance for controlling unregulated and regulated disinfection by-products across a range of water matrices and developing laboratory skills to analyze contaminants in samples.”</p><p><strong>Emma Payne</strong> (Advisor: <a href="/even/node/271" rel="nofollow">Karl Linden</a>) is receiving the Dr. Philip C. Singer Scholarship. Her thesis is about improving UV advanced oxidation efficiency through tailored wavelength and radical promoter innovations. Emma in interested in passing on her knowledge to the next generation, "I am committed to being a good mentor and teacher, in addition to researcher and graduate student. As much as I thoroughly believe that my research will advance the field of environmental engineering, I also recognize that helping others to achieve their goals and contribute to the field is equally important. In this vein, I have pursued several mentoring and teaching opportunities and will continue to seek these opportunities out during my graduate career and beyond.”&nbsp;</p></div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-right col-lg"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/article-image/trio.png?itok=nuQ971pg" width="1500" height="835" alt="The three winners."> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:43:23 +0000 Anonymous 4937 at /even "I love solving challenging environmental problems." /even/2022/10/31/i-love-solving-challenging-environmental-problems <span>"I love solving challenging environmental problems."</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-10-31T09:07:32-06:00" title="Monday, October 31, 2022 - 09:07">Mon, 10/31/2022 - 09:07</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/lisawang.jpeg?h=2934fd7d&amp;itok=dvQrH87M" width="1200" height="600" alt="Lisa Wang"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><strong>Name: </strong>Yu Hong (Lisa) Wang<br><strong>Hometown:&nbsp;</strong>Johannesburg, South Africa<br>Program: Environmental Engineering</p><blockquote><h2>"This department holds a warming place in my heart as I am greeted by smiling faces who genuinely care about each other."</h2></blockquote><p>I was born in China, Qingdao, an attractive coastal city with influences from both Germany and Japan. I grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, a beautiful country known for its communal diversity. Growing up in a competitive all-girls British school, I had developed a love for reading and baking, alongside swimming and distance running. Recently my friends have convinced me to rock climb with them, which is also an incredibly rewarding sport.&nbsp;I am a senior in the Environmental Engineering Program focusing specifically on Indoor Air Quality, doing research with Professor Shelly Miller.</p><p>I plan to graduate with a BS in December 2019 and hope to continue graduate school here at CU. I love working with people, so I would say that the greatest accomplishment of my education so far is being able to build life-lasting relationships with the very people I have the honor to attend classes with. I’m incredibly passionate about God and hope to be used someday in Women’s ministry as a female engineer. My favorite place on campus right now is probably the newly furnished SEEC building. It’s a privilege to accompany research and homework with the magnificent view of the Flatirons right outside your window.</p><p><strong>How did you choose to study Environmental Engineering at CU? What sets apart CU’s Environmental Engineering Program?</strong></p><p>Besides the gorgeous winter campus pictures all over the internet, I chose CU for our ranking in EVEN and it was the most affordable school for my circumstance.</p><p>After the first semester in Environmental Engineering, I switched out to Mechanical, thinking that I could take an alternative route to where I wanted to be. After further inspection of my classes in junior year, I switched back into Environmental Engineering, finally understanding the path I want to pursue. I love solving challenging environmental problems, more than any other problem in the field of Engineering. I realized soon after that the Environmental Engineering Program at CU focuses not only on academia but every single faculty uplifts individual students in our department. When I walk into the Environmental Wing in the Engineering Centre, I am greeted by smiling faces of people who genuinely appreciate another individual outside of their intended academic or career path. That is why this department holds a warming place in my heart.</p><p><strong>What enrichment activities (including internships, research, study abroad, etc.) have you been involved in at CU? How have these affected your experience here?</strong></p><p>I have had the privilege to be part of the Engineering Honors Program, where I have encountered many talented, passionate engineering peers and friends. My freshman year, I gained insight on the technical field working for a start-up robotics company. My sophomore and junior years have stimulated my passion for academia and solving problems in a formal institution, learning to collaborate with people who are often older and more experienced than me. A slightly different community, however, has helped me grow from a freshman girl in STEM to a woman in STEM, is my ministry Christian Challenge.<br> I have gained a new understanding of how to influence and bless others as a Christian in engineering. Stepping out of this department, to a smaller community can sometimes be overwhelming as we lose hope to try to implement change in the world. However, to aim for a larger purpose, I can shift my perspective, putting on a different set of lenses to dream small and look towards the needs of my immediate vicinity to implement change. In my engineering classes, I’ve suddenly understood how to practically view every problem with a step by step mindset starting with changing my own thoughts, engaging my classmates and colleagues in the process before trying to ‘fix and change our society’.</p><p><strong>What is a highlight of your academic career at CU? This could be a class, lab, project or research.</strong></p><p>In the summer of 2018, through a research program by CU, I was able to work with Professor Shelly Miller. Professor Miller introduced me to the world of air pollution control, specifically focusing on indoor air quality. Currently, I am working on a project with the City of Boulder, trying to understand the benefits of public health relating to indoor air quality with a transition to cleaner energy in Boulder. Americans spend an average of 70-90% of our time indoors, so indoor air is one of the main factors that contribute to respiratory health. I love sharing ideas with people who come from such different backgrounds than I do. It’s been superbly rewarding.</p><p><strong>What do you plan to do after graduating from CU? How has your educational experience helped you prepare for this?</strong></p><p>I plan to stay at CU for an MS degree and hope to continue this path in academia. Rigorous engineering classes has helped nurture my stamina and time management skills to take on a lot more than I ever thought I could handle. And, of course, EVEN was what started my interest in the field of air pollution in the first place.</p></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script> window.location.href = `/ceae/2022/10/25/lisa-wang-environmental-engineering`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 31 Oct 2022 15:07:32 +0000 Anonymous 4878 at /even Becoming an environmental engineer to improve water quality in developing countries /even/2022/08/01/becoming-environmental-engineer-improve-water-quality-developing-countries <span>Becoming an environmental engineer to improve water quality in developing countries</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-08-01T09:08:18-06:00" title="Monday, August 1, 2022 - 09:08">Mon, 08/01/2022 - 09:08</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/student_0.jpg?h=1e3c5ccc&amp;itok=3KjdYVnX" width="1200" height="600" alt="Sydney Litchfield"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-row-subrow row"> <div class="ucb-article-text col-lg d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><strong>Name:</strong> Sydney Litchfield<br><strong>Hometown: </strong>Chattanooga, TN<br><strong>Major: </strong>Environmental Engineering<br><strong>Year: </strong>Senior</p><p>I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and did not start taking interest in engineering until I was in college. An inspiration behind becoming an engineer was watching my city go from one of the dirtiest places in the country to one of the cleanest urban areas in the nation.</p><p>I never believed that I could be an engineer, so I pushed the thought behind me, but even still, the idea lived in the back of my mind.</p><p>Once I started college I realized I had no idea what I wanted to study. After my freshman year, I took a gap year and volunteered as an English teacher in Cairo, Egypt for 10 months.</p><p>While I was there, all I could see was the need for better water resources, structures, simple filtration, and overall better infrastructure within the city.</p><p>When I returned home, I decided that I wanted to pursue my once repressed dream of becoming an engineer.<span aria-hidden="true"> </span></p><p><span aria-hidden="true">I realized I wanted to make a difference for water quality in developing countries. I saw so many of my students getting sick all the time when they went home for breaks because in their villages, they didn't have a filtration system or access to clean water like we did at the school. </span></p><p><span aria-hidden="true">Although our water system was simple at the school, it quickly became an interest. I knew I wanted to work in water treatment facilities and wanted to make drinking water available to those who needed it.<span> </span></span></p><p>I chose environmental engineering because I enjoy problem solving, and it was the track where I felt that I could connect with people in the community and help out.</p><p>I am now a senior, hopeful for Fall 2023 graduation!</p><p>I started my undergrad in Tennessee, but at the beginning of the pandemic, I moved to Colorado and decided to transfer to CU Boulder.</p><p>I had experienced Boulder through summer jobs in high school and during college working as a counselor at summer camps, including Glacier View Ranch camp in Ward, Colorado.</p><p>On my days off, I would travel around the mountains and go into town in Boulder. During my visits, I noticed that CU Boulder had a program in environmental engineering.</p><p>From going on campus tours and seeing the program highlights I knew that I would love to go to here.</p><p>Boulder also has great people and offers an outdoor lifestyle with everyone I have met along the way. I have the opportunity to spend what free time I have outside with some of my best friends.</p></div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-right col-lg"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/article-image/student_0.jpg?itok=DFoWHJia" width="1500" height="1000" alt="Sydney Litchfield"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:08:18 +0000 Anonymous 4867 at /even From professional ballerina to environmental engineer /even/2022/06/27/professional-ballerina-environmental-engineer <span>From professional ballerina to environmental engineer</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-06-27T15:20:12-06:00" title="Monday, June 27, 2022 - 15:20">Mon, 06/27/2022 - 15:20</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/fullsizerender.jpeg?h=8463d8a0&amp;itok=_k7w1WOh" width="1200" height="600" alt="Elizabeth Wallace"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-white"> <div class="ucb-box-inner"> <div class="ucb-box-title"></div> <div class="ucb-box-content"><br>Elizabeth Wallace<br><strong>Header Image: </strong>Wallace hiking in the Rocky Mountains.</div> </div> </div><p><strong>Name:</strong> Elizabeth (Izzy) Wallace<br><strong>Hometown: </strong>Lexington, Ky<br><strong>Major: </strong>Environmental Engineering Bachelor Accelerated Masters (BAM) student<br><strong>Year: </strong>Senior</p><p>My path to engineering was not straight and narrow.</p><p>As a child growing up in Lexington Kentucky, I showed a talent for the arts and a natural curiosity for science. However, for a long time, the latter of my interests was pushed to the back.</p><p>I was singularly focused on my goal of becoming a ballerina. I achieved this goal at the age of seventeen when I joined the New York City Ballet. I continued to dance professionally for the following eight years, but along the way, I realized this wasn’t what I wanted.</p><p>One day on a hike with a loved one, I offhandedly said, “I wish I could be an environmental scientist.”</p><p>He replied, “Why can't you?”</p><p>No one had ever given stock to the idea that I could do something with this other passion of mine.</p><p>When I got home, I ordered some used textbooks and applied to the local community college. Unexpectedly, I found I was getting more fulfillment out of my night classes than in my ballet career. So, I officially retired from ballet and began classes at the University of Colorado Boulder.</p><p>I am now focused on a new goal, protecting our environment and determining how we can optimize human development within the constraints of our delicate ecosystems. I want to not only ask the important questions, and expand the collective knowledge base through academic research, but be a part of implementing the solutions. This is what drove me in the direction of environmental engineering.</p><p>I’m now entering my 4th year as an undergraduate student in Environmental Engineering and am pursuing a concurrent master’s in Environmental Engineering with a focus on air quality.</p><p>My current research interests within <a href="/even/node/261" rel="nofollow">Dr. Hannigan’s lab</a> focus on the impacts of energy use and its contribution to community-level air pollution exposure.</p><p>In a previous research opportunity, through an NSF-funded REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates), I was able to study <a href="https://cires.colorado.edu/outreach/people/elizabeth-izzy-wallace" rel="nofollow">ambient levels of air toxics near fracking operations in residential Colorado neighborhoods.</a></p><p>I love that here at CU Boulder I have not only been able to develop the technical skills required to achieve my goals but also encourage other young people to learn about environmental issues in their community and pursue careers in STEM.</p><p>I recently completed a <a href="/activelearningprogram/discovery-learning/discovery-learning-apprenticeship-dla-program" rel="nofollow">DLA (Discovery Learning Apprenticeship)</a> designing and piloting a project-based STEM curriculum that leverages a soil quality monitor “s-pod”, newly developed here at CU Boulder in the Hannigan Lab, with the goal of enhancing student engagement in STEM in rural Colorado high schools.</p><p>Within this program, and other CU Engineering outreach activities, I have been able to encourage migrant, refugee, and rural young people across Colorado to pursue careers in STEM.</p><p>I love that I’m given this opportunity to be that support for students who might not have received the necessary resources or encouragement at their school or at home. Maybe even students like me, who didn’t believe they could be an engineer at first, but absolutely can!</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>My path to engineering was not straight and narrow.<br> <br> As a child growing up in Lexington Kentucky, I showed a talent for the arts and a natural curiosity for science. However, for a long time, the latter of my interests was pushed to the back.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/feature-title-image/fullsizerender.jpeg?itok=f-Nc5V5Y" width="1500" height="1125" alt> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 27 Jun 2022 21:20:12 +0000 Anonymous 4861 at /even EVEN undergraduate part of summer water reclamation research /even/2021/08/24/even-undergraduate-part-summer-water-reclamation-research <span>EVEN undergraduate part of summer water reclamation research</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-08-24T14:07:20-06:00" title="Tuesday, August 24, 2021 - 14:07">Tue, 08/24/2021 - 14:07</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/mcen-pellegrino-lab-pasta-plastic-61.jpg?h=d869952c&amp;itok=iu6iv_OE" width="1200" height="600" alt="Whitney Knoop"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/86" hreflang="en">Faculty News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/92" hreflang="en">Student News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><div class="image-caption image-caption-right"><p></p><p>Whitney Knopp</p></div><p>Whitney Knopp – an undergraduate in the <a href="/even/" rel="nofollow">Environmental Engineering Program</a> – spent her summer creating pasta-shaped 3D-printed plastic for use in water reclamation efforts.</p><p>The work is funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and is based in CU Boulder Research Professor John Pellegrino’s <a href="/faculty/pellegrino/" rel="nofollow">Fundamental Membrane Development, Characterization, &amp; Applications lab.</a> The plastic could be used to increase the mixing and crystallization of supersaturated, saline water after it is pumped through a tube during inland water reclamation efforts.</p><p>That ability could have lasting implications for water conservation in the west where there are many "impaired" inland water sources. That includes water coming up from underground due to fossil fuel production or excess agricultural drainage for example. Both of which could still have beneficial uses after some treatment. Reverse osmosis desalination can be used to make those and other sources suitable for broad use – potentially easing supply and conservation issues if done economically. However, there is always a "high salt" leftover that must be disposed of during these processes. Knoop’s work is part of an effort to maximize the amount of water available from those kinds of sources and minimize the amount of leftover water that contaminates the environment.</p><p>There are many real-world undergraduate student research opportunities in the college through industry, government, and academic partnerships. <a href="/engineering/students/research" rel="nofollow">Find your fit by browsing the programs,</a> or talk to a professor about open positions in their labs.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Whitney Knoop – an undergraduate in the Environmental Engineering Program – spent her summer creating pasta-shaped 3D-printed plastic for use in water reclamation efforts.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:07:20 +0000 Anonymous 4733 at /even CEAE and EVEN 2020 Live-Streamed Graduation Ceremony Video /even/2020/05/19/ceae-and-even-2020-live-streamed-graduation-ceremony-video <span>CEAE and EVEN 2020 Live-Streamed Graduation Ceremony Video</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-05-19T09:09:25-06:00" title="Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - 09:09">Tue, 05/19/2020 - 09:09</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/cuboudernewaerial.jpg?h=84071268&amp;itok=Eafocwqb" width="1200" height="600" alt="CU Boulder Arial"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/64" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/33" hreflang="en">News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/92" hreflang="en">Student News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p class="text-align-center"></p><h2 class="text-align-center"><strong>Congratulations on your Graduation!</strong></h2><p>The Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department and the Environmental Engineering Program&nbsp;hosted a live-streamed graduation ceremony on May 15, 2020.</p><p>More than 350&nbsp;graduating students, faculty, staff, family and friends&nbsp;attended the ceremony&nbsp;to celebrate your accomplishments.Thank you to all. Special thanks to our&nbsp;featured guest speaker&nbsp;Jonathan Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Wright Water Engineers and to our&nbsp;student speaker Peter Heller, who won the Outstanding Undergraduate Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science and from the Civil, Environmental and Architectural Department.</p><p>Please find below the Program, the graduation updated slides and the video of the Ceremony.</p><p>Go Buffs!</p><p class="text-align-center"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/even/node/4453/attachment" rel="nofollow"> <span class="ucb-link-button-contents"> 2020 CEAE and EVEN Graduation Ceremony Slides </span> </a> &nbsp; &nbsp;<a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-gold ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/ceae/node/2185/attachment" rel="nofollow"> <span class="ucb-link-button-contents"> Graduation Program </span> </a> </p><p class="text-align-center">&nbsp;</p><p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hktsu-WEW5w]</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>The Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department and the Environmental Engineering Program hosted a live-streamed graduation ceremony on May 15, 2020. More than 350 graduating students, faculty, staff, family and friends attended the ceremony to celebrate your accomplishments.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 19 May 2020 15:09:25 +0000 Anonymous 4451 at /even EVEN student honored as Outstanding Undergraduate for Service /even/2020/05/08/even-student-honored-outstanding-undergraduate-service <span>EVEN student honored as Outstanding Undergraduate for Service</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-05-08T08:32:09-06:00" title="Friday, May 8, 2020 - 08:32">Fri, 05/08/2020 - 08:32</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/selenahinojos2.png?h=b01a37a3&amp;itok=dXPvXBmx" width="1200" height="600" alt="Selena Hinojos"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/82" hreflang="en">Awards</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/33" hreflang="en">News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/92" hreflang="en">Student News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>For environmental engineering major Selena Hinojos, graduating from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences is more than just a personal accomplishment.</p><p>“This represents the accomplishments of my parents and supporters along my journey,” she said. “Being a first-generation student, it was my personal duty to do everything my parents never had the chance to do.”</p><p>Hinojos paid forward that support many times over in service to her fellow students during her time at CU Boulder, earning her a College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Undergraduate for Service award for spring 2020.</p><p>“It was an honor to be chosen as an Outstanding Graduate for Service,” she said. “This award symbolizes the collective time and energy I put into my passions, but overall this award symbolizes the various experiences and opportunities that I am grateful to have been a part of.”</p><p>During her time at CU, Hinojos&nbsp;served as a <a href="/engineering/goldshirt" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GoldShirt Scholar</a>, supporting the academic success of younger engineering students. As a mentor and Academic Lead Mentor with GoldShirt, she helped welcome and support two new classes of GoldShirt Scholars through their Summer Bridge Program and first academic year. She was also a resident advisor in <a href="/living/housing/aden-hall" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aden Hall</a> and the <a href="/engineering-advising/EngineeringLLC" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Engineering Quad Living &amp; Learning Community,</a> where GoldShirt scholars and CU Engineering students reside.&nbsp;</p><p>Hinojos&nbsp;also worked as an <a href="/engineering-advising/ambassadors" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Engineering Ambassador</a> and was involved with the <a href="https://cuboulderswe.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Society of Women Engineers</a> and the <a href="/p13f5b6c7eae/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers</a>.</p><p>“The greatest lesson I learned from my time at CU Boulder is that it doesn't matter what background and experience you have coming into a situation. It is about the grit and passion you have to finish and be better and do better,” she said.</p><p>To get the most out of college, Hinojos&nbsp;encourages all students to take a step outside of their comfort zones.&nbsp;</p><p>“Based on what I now know, the best piece of advice for other students is to be comfortable with uncomfortable situations, as these experiences allow for the most self-growth and success in your personal and academic life,” she said.</p><p>Following graduation, Hinojos&nbsp;will attend Penn State University to pursue a PhD in civil engineering with a water resource focus. To support her studies, she earned Penn State’s Bunton-Waller Assistantship and the Robert W. Graham Endowed Graduate Fellowship.&nbsp;</p><p>She got a taste of being a researcher during undergraduate research experiences in <a href="/lab/cook/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Assistant Professor Sherri Cook’s research lab</a> and the <a href="https://erams.com/UWIN/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Urban Water Innovation Network</a> at CSU.</p><p>“I will be investigating the ethical implications of connected critical infrastructure in the food-energy-water nexus,” she said. “From there, I hope to further immerse myself in research centered around climate change and creating a sustainable future.”</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Environmental Engineering graduating student Selena Hinojos honored Outstanding Undergraduate for Service by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 08 May 2020 14:32:09 +0000 Anonymous 4439 at /even Student earns NSF Graduate Research Fellowship /even/2020/04/28/student-earns-nsf-graduate-research-fellowship <span>Student earns NSF Graduate Research Fellowship</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-04-28T08:02:34-06:00" title="Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - 08:02">Tue, 04/28/2020 - 08:02</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/keaniwillebrand.jpg?h=5bb86cc8&amp;itok=V4XS8KgG" width="1200" height="600" alt="Keani Willebrand"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/82" hreflang="en">Awards</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/33" hreflang="en">News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/92" hreflang="en">Student News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>Environmental engineering major Keani Willebrand has earned a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">National Science Foundation</a> (NSF).&nbsp;</p><p>Willebrand will receive her BS in environmental engineering next month. She plans to continue her education, pursuing a graduate degree in environmental engineering at Stanford University.</p><blockquote><p>“I feel extremely honored and humbled to have been awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and to have the opportunity to pursue my research passions as I continue into my graduate studies. I believe that the experiences and opportunities I have had over the past four years, notably within the CU Boulder community, have largely contributed to my selection as a fellow.”</p></blockquote><p>Willebrand’s research is focused on alternative water management strategies, including the development of decentralized water treatment technologies and how these technologies may be monitored, managed and adapted remotely to promote long-term resiliency and compliance with regulation.&nbsp;</p><p>Decentralized water management systems can collect, treat, dispose of or reuse wastewaters near point-of-use and are increasingly becoming more economically feasible, less prone to accidents, and one of the most promising approaches for improving water management in urban areas. Wetland roofs represent an emerging green infrastructure technology suitable for decentralized water management and the treatment of greywater onsite.&nbsp;</p><p>Through this research study, Willebrand plans to develop a set of design guidelines for future wetland roof construction to maximize reclaimed greywater quality and quantity by consideration of wetland roof substrata, vegetation and greywater loading rates.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>A long-term monitoring campaign leveraging remote water quality sensors will also provide insight into the treatment efficiency of wetland roofs over long-term exposure to greywater contaminants while further contributing to the broader impact of improving future smart water grid development and management strategies.</p><p>The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship provides fellows with a three-year annual stipend of $34,000, tuition and fee support, and opportunities for professional development.</p><blockquote><p>“In this way, the NSF will be supporting my research aspirations financially as well as supporting my professional development as I continue into my graduate career,” Willebrand said. “The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship will allow for me to continue to grow as a researcher in the field of environmental engineering and will support me in seeing my research aspirations come to fruition.”</p></blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Environmental engineering major Keani Willebrand has earned a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF).&nbsp;</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 28 Apr 2020 14:02:34 +0000 Anonymous 4423 at /even Chemical Safety and Environmental Stewardship Internship /even/2020/04/07/chemical-safety-and-environmental-stewardship-internship <span>Chemical Safety and Environmental Stewardship Internship</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-04-07T11:09:20-06:00" title="Tuesday, April 7, 2020 - 11:09">Tue, 04/07/2020 - 11:09</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/even/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/epa-seal-large.png?h=a7e6d17b&amp;itok=gV0Zls4I" width="1200" height="600" alt="EPA"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/33" hreflang="en">News</a> <a href="/even/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><h2 class="text-align-center"></h2><h2 class="text-align-center"><strong>EPA Region 8 2020 Student Volunteer Job Announcement</strong></h2><p><strong>Job Title:</strong> Cross Program Opportunity with the Chemical Safety and Environmental Stewardship Branch</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Background:</strong> EPA Region 8’s Chemical Safety and Environmental Stewardship Branch houses multiple regulatory and nonregulatory environmental programs. The Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) program promotes a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles. SMM represents a change in how our society thinks about the use of natural resources and environmental protection. The Pollution Prevention Program is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source. Reducing the amount of pollution produced means less waste to control, treat, or dispose of. Less pollution means less hazards posed to public health and the environment. The (P2) Program works through grantees, who provide technical assistance and outreach to business, on implementing P2 best practices.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job Description: </strong>The intern will help the regional SMM team to achieve program goals, including conducting a materials audit for the EPA Region 8 office space. As part of the Denver Office of Sustainability Commit to Action 2020 Sustainability Goals, and under the direction of EPA staff, the summer intern will coordinate measurement of trash, recyclables, and compostables from multiple break rooms, estimate diversion rate and make recommendations for behavioral interventions to improve diversion of materials from landfill. This materials characterization (waste audit) will supplement a previous audit completed in 2010.</p><p>The intern will assist the regional P2 team with researching and identifying environmental financing mechanisms for high capital P2 opportunities. Environmental finance is an emerging field where opportunities are arising for financing environmental improvements (such as stormwater “green” infrastructure to deep energy retrofits) requiring significant capital expenditures at reduced rates (compared to currently available commercial debt for these kinds of investments).&nbsp; EPA is interested in identifying and sharing information about environmental financing solutions for P2 because the program has observed that small- and medium-size manufacturing/processing businesses typically don’t have the capital needed to make innovative changes in their operations. The intern will also assist the P2 Program with launching the R8 P2 Award Program and planning for the 30-year anniversary of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) for P2 Week.</p><p>Specific duties may include, but are not limited, to the following:</p><ul><li>Assist in planning and implementing the waste audit;</li><li>Participate in national and regional workgroup calls to develop expertise in SMM and P2 issues;</li><li>Use EPA materials measurement tools to generate greenhouse gas equivalency reports to communicate benefits of materials diversion from landfills;</li><li>Learn and apply basic community-based social marketing concepts (messaging for behavior change) to recommend a communication and outreach plan for increasing materials diversion in the EPA Region 8 office space;</li><li>Research and identify environmental financing mechanisms</li><li>Research companies that have used innovative financing mechanisms and identify some successes or lessons learned</li><li>Identify a venue and/or conference where we can hold the R8 P2 Award Recognition</li><li>Propose innovative ideas on ways the region can celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the PPA. Both internally to R8 employees and externally to the public.</li><li>Other as needed.</li></ul><p><em>Desired Skills:</em></p><ul><li>Excellent written and verbal communication</li><li>Basic Excel, Word, and Publisher</li><li>Social Media development</li><li>Ability to work independently</li><li>Works well on a team</li></ul><p><em>Knowledge/Experience </em>(optional, but a bonus):</p><ul><li>Policy research experience</li><li>Knowledge of environmental policies, laws, and issues</li><li>Knowledge of sustainable practices for businesses and/or buildings</li><li>Knowledge of behavioral science, communication, and/or behavioral intervention strategies</li><li>Waste audit planning and implementation</li><li>Communication and outreach</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Timeline: </strong>Intern will be on board for a minimum of 2 months, with the goal being 3 months. The maximum is 4 months but this is not assured.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Desired hours per week:</strong> 10 – 40 hours (in-office only) (preference will be given to qualified candidates available to work more hours per week).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Desired start date:</strong> May 25<sup>th </sup>(this&nbsp;may be negotiated) (Note: From the time of acceptance, there will be a 2-4-week period prior to the first day of work while paperwork is completed.)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>How to Apply:&nbsp;</strong>Email your transcripts, resume, cover sheet to Kimberly Pardue Welch, <a href="mailto:Pardue-welch.kimberly@epa.gov" rel="nofollow">Pardue-welch.kimberly@epa.gov</a>. Applications are appreciated by Friday, April 3, 2020, but the position will be open until filled.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For More Information</strong>: contact Kimberly Pardue Welch, in the Chemical Safety and Environmental Stewardship Branch, U.S. EPA Region 8; <a href="mailto:Pardue-welch.kimberly@epa.gov" rel="nofollow">Pardue-welch.kimberly@epa.gov</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Contact:</strong> Elaine Robles, Human Resources, 303.312.6194 or <a href="mailto:robles.elaine@epa.gov" rel="nofollow">robles.elaine@epa.gov</a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Apply today for a Cross Program Opportunity with the Chemical Safety and Environmental Stewardship Branch of the EPA.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:09:20 +0000 Anonymous 4405 at /even