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,...
By Dimitri Kittrell, Civil Engineering Major, Mentor Adrianna Fragozo. As the population grows and as cities and towns expand, there becomes an increasingly growing need for personal vehicles, especially in rural areas. However, according to the EPA, transportation...
By Jack Barkhurst, Environmental Planning and Design Major, Mentor Marisa Repasch. Due to climate change, arctic regions around the world are warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet. Over the past few summers, Dr. Marisa Repasch, an Earth &...
By Arisvet Garay, Construction Engineering Major, Mentor Jaimie Ritchie. Today, pollution levels in many areas of the United States exceed national air quality standards for at least one of the six common pollutants, affecting millions of people and causing serious...
By Luz De Avila, Mechanical Engineering Major, Mentor Carl Abadam, Carmen Atchley. In areas affected by natural disasters, access to clean water becomes a critical issue, especially for rural communities. When traditional water sources are compromised, alternatives...