Growing up in Lebanon during my teens, I experienced firsthand how water can shape daily life. Tap water was not safe to drink, so bottled water became a necessity. Additionally, during heavy rains, flooding often closed roads, damaged cars, and left neighborhoods isolated for extended hours, or even days. These experiences profoundly shaped my academicContinue reading “Holding Water, Building Resilience: The Case for Smart Blue Roof Systems in Urban Canada”
Tag Archives: environment
The Hidden Side of Plastic Pollution: Tracking Chemical Additives in Ontario Waters
Keywords: Plastic Additives, Passive Sampling, Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic, Water Pollution My interest in environmental chemistry began during my undergraduate thesis, where I studied how different types of microplastics weather in the environment. Watching these plastics slowly break down and transform in different environments sparked a lasting curiosity about what they release and how thoseContinue reading “The Hidden Side of Plastic Pollution: Tracking Chemical Additives in Ontario Waters”
When Climate and Seasons Shift: How Microbes Keep Constructed Wetlands Alive
Have you ever wondered what happens to the tiny, unseen microbes that work tirelessly to clean our wastewater when the seasons change, or when the climate itself starts to shift? As climate change continues to reshape the world around us, its impacts extend far beyond melting ice caps and rising sea levels. The changing climateContinue reading “When Climate and Seasons Shift: How Microbes Keep Constructed Wetlands Alive”
Cold Plasma for a Sustainable Future: Advancing Water Treatment and Nitrogen Fixation
Let’s imagine rupturing the electrons or ions from a gas or vapor. It certainly sounds like an energy intensive process, perhaps requiring a highly specialized and sophisticated experimental setup. I thought the same before joining the Soft Matter & Interface Research Group at the University of Alberta. In reality, this can be achieved just byContinue reading “Cold Plasma for a Sustainable Future: Advancing Water Treatment and Nitrogen Fixation”
Conference Workshop
Navigating Career Growth in the Water Industry: From Early Career to Leadership Date: June 19, 2025 (10.15 AM -12 PM) Location: ECERF W2-090, University of Alberta Workshop Presentations Presentation 1: YWP’s Perspective Speakers: Sanaz Mohebali | Researcher, Veolia WTS Sanaz Mohebali holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemical engineering from Iran’s top universities, graduatingContinue reading “Conference Workshop”
What is Water?
So I was asked to write a blog post about water. As an environmental engineer specializing in research of an aquatic contaminant, I thought it would be easy enough for me, right? Wrong. Water means many things. As an environmental engineer, water often refers to something with undesirable qualities, like sewage, that needs to beContinue reading “What is Water?”
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”
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”
IWA YWP Canada 