Margaret Cook is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring
in Civil Engineering with a focus in water treatment and minoring in
Religious Studies. She hopes to use this education to promote clean
water technologies both in America and abroad. As a step towards this
goal, with other engineering students this past year, she helped to
implement a water conservation system at a school in Peru. She intends
to keep working on projects like this because everyone deserves access
to clean water. She hails from Corpus Christi, Texas and enjoys playing
guitar in her spare time.
Bryan Canavan:
2009:
Allison Osborne:
Allison completed her M.S.E. in Environmental and Water Resources
Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin in December, 2009. Her
Master's research focused on the production of microalgae for biofuels.
Specifically, she investigated methods for harvesting suspended algae into a
concentrated solution that can be further processed by lysing and oil
extraction. Some of the processes she researched include chemical
flocculation, dissolved air flotation, pre-oxidation, natural flocculation,
and electrocoagulation. In addition, she identified characteristics of
algae cell surfaces that impacts their ability to coagulate. Her research
concluded by addressing the role of water chemistry and algae cell surface
characteristics on the effective treatment mechanism.
Since graduating, Allison has accepted a position with the Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), where she will be working in the Water
Quality Division. She is looking forward to contributing to the well-being
of the environment by working with utilities to ensure that regulated
industries are adequately treating their wastewater before discharging it to
the public utility. She is also continuing to work with the Green Corn
Project to install gardens in qualifying homes or organizations; most
recently, she helped install a garden at a school for the handicaped.
Matthew Reece:
Matthew is currently pursuing his ME in Civil Engineering, with a
concentration in Construction Management/Sustainable Engineering through the
University of Florida. Upon completion
of his post graduate degree, Matthew plans on working in the field of coastal
development.With an interest in working
in and around the ocean, Matthew sees a niche in developing and adapting some
of the latest technologies in sustainability towards port and harbor design.
In his personal life,
Matthew incorporates composting household waste and growing his own herbs and
vegetables. Next on his plate- designing grey water and rain water systems and
looking into solar power for his new home.
