(In Photo, L to R: Gabrielle Pierce, and Zoë Geller-Alford)
This summer, our undergraduate students in the Environmental Engineering programs truly showcased their diverse experiences and incredible talents through our “Environmentale” Photo Contest! With over 11 submissions and more than 70 votes cast by members of our program, we’re thrilled to announce our two winners.
Zoë Geller-Alford: Marine Acoustics Research Lab Adventure
Zoë took us on a fascinating journey into the depths of marine research. This summer, they worked in a marine acoustics research lab, spearheading the development of an underwater recording device to study whales. Their winning photo captures the excitement of deploying a prototype off the California coast during an expedition to gather test data.
“I’m still in disbelief that I got to do this! It was such a high-level position for the summer after my first year, and I learned so much from an amazing team of people.”
Gabrielle Pierce: Fish Salvage on the Cheslatta River
Gabrielle shared her impactful environmental work in Northern British Columbia. Her co-op experience involved working with an environmental team to conduct a fish salvage operation on the Cheslatta River. After the dam on the river closed for the season, water levels dropped, stranding aquatic in pools. Gabrielle and the team electrofished these pools to relocate the fish back into the main river.
“This experience was a powerful reminder of how every piece of infrastructure and every decision we make impacts the environment. I hope to carry this knowledge forward to work toward mitigating environmental impacts in future projects. Plus, getting paid to fish is kind of the dream!”
Congratulations to our winners and a big thank-you to all participants for sharing your incredible photos. These inspiring experiences are a testament to the opportunities available through our programs in Environmental Engineering. Stay tuned for more stories from our amazing students!