My Journey to Becoming a Wastewater Engineer

When I was seven, my hometown, Wuxi, faced a crisis of blue-green algal blooms. This environmental issue sparked my curiosity about the mechanisms behind such crises. However, it wasn’t until I entered Duke Kunshan University (DKU) as an undergraduate, that I discovered environmental science as a field of study.  As a liberal arts college, DKUContinue reading “My Journey to Becoming a Wastewater Engineer”

Biodegradation of plastic materials in various aquatic systems

Thanks to my father’s profession, I had the opportunity to live in various cultures around the world, which gave me firsthand exposure to the Earth’s diverse ecosystems and fostered a deep appreciation for nature. In college, I spent much of my free time birdwatching and collecting insects, and it was during these moments that IContinue reading “Biodegradation of plastic materials in various aquatic systems”

The Importance of Continual Development

I work at EPCOR Water Services at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant in Edmonton, Alberta. I recently attended the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), hosted in New Orleans. It was an amazing experience, and I encourage young water professionals (YWPs) to take advantage of such opportunities when they present themselves. ProfessionalContinue reading “The Importance of Continual Development”

Navigating the Water Industry: Embracing Change and Discovering Your Passion

As a young professional in the water industry, I often reflect on my journey of professional development. Over the past seven years, I’ve transitioned between five major roles: wastewater consulting, transportation infrastructure consulting, stormwater management consulting, flood risk management with a conservation authority, municipal planning for linear infrastructure, and finally, back to wastewater consulting. IContinue reading “Navigating the Water Industry: Embracing Change and Discovering Your Passion”

There is so much about water

I completed my undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta, specializing in environmental engineering, whose curriculum included courses on air quality, water resources, river management, and remediation. Initially, I didn’t have a specific area of interest, but my path gradually steered toward water-related fields. My first co-op placement in drainage unexpectedly hadContinue reading “There is so much about water”

ExPEC of Emerging Concern in Water Environments

My name is Kanghee Ryu, and I am a PhD candidate at the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. I have the privilege of working under the guidance of Dr. Norman Neumann, an exceptional researcher and supervisor. Our research group is to studying microorganisms isolated from water resources, including wastewater and stormwater.Continue reading “ExPEC of Emerging Concern in Water Environments”

The Journey of Choosing Environmental Engineering as My Major

I was born in Guangzhou, one of the major cities of China. When I was a little kid, my parents were so busy with their work that oftentimes they dropped me off at my grandparents’ village in Guangxi, a beautiful hilly province in the south. There, I made a lot of friends; together we climbedContinue reading “The Journey of Choosing Environmental Engineering as My Major”

How to find your research interests 

As a Master student who switched majors, I  had a really hard time pinpointing my academic interests and future path. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, a subject focusing on understanding the environment and geographical changes. For example, I studied hydrology, ecology, and the most interesting, isotope dating. Indeed, we also hadContinue reading “How to find your research interests “

My study journey starts with a challenge

2022 was an unusual year for me as I started a new journey in a different country. I packed my bags and got ready to go. After a 14-hour flight and traveling halfway around the world, I finally set foot on this foreign land. Everything here was strange and new to me. With the joyContinue reading “My study journey starts with a challenge”

“Interdisciplinary Approaches to Water Research” 

Every morning, I take the Edmonton city train across the Kisiskāciwani-sīpiy (North Saskatchewan River), and I thank the river. I thank it for providing me with water to drink, cook, and clean with. I thank it for recreation, for its strength, and for the lessons it teaches me; I think of all the connections overContinue reading ““Interdisciplinary Approaches to Water Research” “