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”
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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”
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”
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”
IWA YWP Canada 