By Olympia Breen, Biology Major, Mentor Eva Stricker. Before President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office, he had vowed to make cuts and reallocate government spending. Since January 20th, 2025, there have been firings, contract freezes, and budget delays. Many...
By Micah Cornelio, Construction Engineering Major, Mentor Sydney Donohue, Anjali Mulchandani. The waste and water industry plays a critical role in public health and environmental sustainability, yet it is facing a workforce shortage as fewer young individuals enter...
By Maya Niblett, Pre-Professional Architecture Major, Mentor Maryam Hojati. With carbon dioxide concentrations and global temperatures at record highs, finding sustainable solutions in the built environment is more urgent than ever. Buildings contribute approximately...
By Sofia Horn, Biology Major, Mentor William Bieker. Due to increasing challenges with climate change, there have been and will continue to be more droughts across the world specifically in dryer regions like New Mexico. In the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, the...
By Neha Mahato, Biology Major, Mentor Tyler Clayshulte. Harmful algal blooms (HABs), primarily caused by cyanobacteria, pose risks to water quality, ecosystems, and public health. As their frequency increases, they disrupt aquatic life, contaminate water sources, and...
By Eliana Merhege, Mechanical Engineering Major,Mentor Allyson McGaughey. The oil and gas industry uses a lot of water that becomes highly polluted and cannot be rereleased into the environment because it would be harmful to ecosystems, and public health. The current...
By Aiden Parsonese, Mechanical Engineering Major, Mentor A.J. Barney, Heather Himmelberger. Wastewater from homes and industries undergoes treatment before being released into the environment. While it meets discharge standards, treated wastewater holds even greater...
By Xavien Artiaga, Biology Major, Mentor Rhett Sanders-Spencer. Wildfires and other disturbances are increasingly affecting freshwater ecosystems in the American Southwest, especially due to climate change. Headwater streams, like the East Fork Jemez River in...
By Carly Salazar, Computer Science Major, Statistics, Mentor Eric Lindsey. Water is limited in the Southwest, making water conservation essential. The Estancia Basin, an agricultural region in central New Mexico, relies on groundwater extraction for irrigation. Over...
By Christal Valdez, Computer Science, Economics Major, Mentor Heidi Honegger Rogers. Chemical pollution, particularly forever chemicals, pose an extreme threat to the planet and, consequently, human health. These pollutants contribute to a wide range of issues,...