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”
Tag Archives: graduatestudies
My Water Journey: From Academia to Consulting
As a young water professional (YWP), curiosity has been my compass. It has driven me to ask questions, explore new paths, and ultimately transition from research into consulting. Throughout this journey, I have learned that building my career is less about having all the answers and more about staying excited to keep learning and exploring.Continue reading “My Water Journey: From Academia to Consulting”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
The journey to a passion for a cleaner and sustainable environment
Research has always been my passion. I grew up with parents who were core advocates for education and continuous learning as they believed it was a great compass to navigate the world. At a very early age, I wanted to become many different things: – from a doctor, an accountant, to an engineer. As timeContinue reading “The journey to a passion for a cleaner and sustainable environment”
IWA YWP Canada 