Internships

PROJECT

Environmental Behavior of Indium, an Element Critical to Emerging Energy Technologies

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Sarah Jane White, Visiting Associate Research Scholar, Geosciences

The focus of my project this summer was to determine the environmental effects that a new solar material, organometal (lead) halide perovskites, could have if it was used commercially. This solar material has seen rapid increases in efficiency, but it is still unstable compared with its counterparts, silicon based solar panels, which are currently in use today. Furthermore, the new material contains lead, which is toxic and could cause serious consequences if released into the environment. This summer I worked in Guyot Hall on campus and leached functional solar cells (with efficiencies of about 8%) with synthetic rainwater. The solar cells were received from a collaborator at the University of Washington, and the formulas for the synthetic rainwaters came from the Environmental Protection Agency and have been used on solar panel waste in the past. I found that large amounts of lead were leached from these solar cells, so my goal in the future is to try to optimize the structure of the solar cell so that we can maximize its efficiency while minimizing its environmental effects. After this incredible opportunity working in the Geosciences Department, I decided to pursue geosciences as my concentration. I plan to continue working with my advisor on this project.

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Byers, Conleigh ’15

Chemical and Biological Engineering

PROJECT

International Energy Security

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Bureau of Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

MENTOR(S)

Faith Corneille Rios, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Energy Resources, Office of Electricity and Energy Efficiency

I spent the summer in the Energy Transformation Group at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources, which leads government efforts to promote international energy security. My placement was in the Office of Electricity and Energy Efficiency, which works globally to transition power systems to more sustainable fuels and technologies and achieve sustainable and global access to electricity. One of my major projects was researching developmental stages of electricity markets post-liberalization with the goal of identifying best practices to promote grid capacity expansion, reduce system losses, and encourage the entrance of independent generators. I also consulted on the feasibility of hybrid solar-diesel microgrid solutions for U.N. refugee camps, drawing on experience I had gained last summer in Jordan. My internship this summer gave me insight into how a federal agency operates and helped me develop skills in effectively conveying technical knowledge in the policy sphere, which will be critical if I decide to pursue a career in energy policy.

Mathematics

PROJECT

Effects of Insect Attacks on Forest Carbon Sinks

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Medvigy Research Group, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

David Medvigy, Assistant Professor, Geosciences

As a research assistant studying the New Jersey Pine Barrens, I used and modified the Ecosystem Demography 2 model to analyze how periodic gypsy moth defoliation affects the ability of the Pine Barrens to act as a carbon sink. The New Jersey Pine Barrens is a unique environment where pines and oaks are the dominant tree species. In an undisturbed environment, oaks thrive better than pines. However, the gypsy moth periodically defoliates the Pine Barrens, with a heavy preference for oak over pine trees. This causes changes in forest composition and growth, as well as alterations in the nitrogen, carbon, and water cycles. Using the Ecosystem Demography 2 model, I looked at the relationship between ecosystem heterogeneity and the effects of the gypsy moth defoliation. I gained insight into how to design and build models, as well as how to debug and organize code. This internship helped me realize how interested I am in applied math, and the many ways in which math can be utilized in the sciences.

Goodman, Jesse ’17

Computer Science

PROJECT

Encapsulating Phase-Change Materials in Nanoparticles via Layer-by-Layer Assembly

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

McAlpine Lab, USA

MENTOR(S)

Michael McAlpine, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Protein-loaded microspheres have recently gained influence through promising applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, it has always been challenging to control the release rate of the loaded protein(s). This summer, I worked to understand how certain fabrication parameters affect the release profiles of these microspheres. My project focused on monitoring the release of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) from PLGA microspheres manufactured via the double emulsion solvent evaporation method. After tweaking certain parameters in the fabrication process, I could then monitor how these changes affected the release of HRP over a 24-hour time period. Through collaboration with another research group in the Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE) department, mathematical models describing the parameters versus protein release relationship were developed and used to target specific protein release profiles. Such optimization techniques were necessary, as each release profile experiment proved to be tedious and time-consuming. While this internship did not alter my choice of concentration, computer science, it did provide me with the invaluable experience of playing a major role in a professional research project.

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Grosskopf, Abby ’17

PROJECT

Crystallization in Constrained Channels

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Loo Group, Princeton University Organic and Polymer Electronics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Sigman, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering

My internship with the Loo Group exposed me to the world of materials science and organic electronics. This summer I worked with Triethylsilylethynyl anthradithiophene (TES ADT), a solution-processable organic semiconductor. Thin films of TES ADT spherulites, a type of crystal, have lots of exciting applications such as solar cells, and organic thin film transistors. My task was to develop and refine methods for growing TES ADT in narrow channels. By understanding more about the growth of TES ADT in channels, we hope to pattern electronics in more elaborate and efficient ways to create new devices and save energy. Recently collaborators in Mikko Haataja’s group in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) department developed a computational model of TES ADT growth and theorized that below a critical channel width, the crystallization process becomes arrested by physical forces. In order to verify these results experimentally, I used patterning techniques to fabricate constrained channels and observe the crystallization behavior of TES ADT. I learned new lab techniques, data analysis skills, and the fundamentals of day-to-day laboratory research. I have a new perspective on the vast amount of applications of chemical engineering in scientific research, and hope to use what I learned this summer in future independent work.

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Huang, Stacey ’16

Electrical Engineering

PROJECT

Environmental Trace Gas Monitoring

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Clausthal University of Technology, Germany

MENTOR(S)

Michael Köhring, Technical University of Clausthal

There is a continuing need for sensitive and durable gas sensors for use in fields such as environmental monitoring and regulation of emissions. Quartz-Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (QEPAS) is a flexible technique that takes advantage of a quartz tuning fork to sense pressure changes induced by modulated laser light in a gas sample. This technique offers many advantages over traditional spectroscopy techniques and is an attractive choice for countless applications. This summer, I worked at Clausthal University of Technology to examine and further develop existing QEPAS technologies being built up for various industry applications in gas sensing. I was able to work with both optical and electrical components, running calibration tests on a laser used for methane sensing, testing optimal LEDs for an ozone detection system, and finally constructing as well as optimizing existing circuitry to be integrated in a system for measuring nitric oxide. By working alongside a myriad of researchers, I was able to begin developing an effective approach toward problem-solving and working efficiently. I was able to gain both valuable first-hand as well as theoretical knowledge, and I look forward to continuing down the road in the field of electronics and laser spectroscopy.

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Kolmes, Elijah ’15

Physics

PROJECT

Innovative Fusion Confinement Concepts

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Samuel Cohen, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

The primary goal of my internship at PPPL was to study fast ion slowing-down rates in a background plasma. I used software called LSP to simulate fast ions slowing down under the conditions that might be found in a field-reversed configuration (FRC) device. FRCs are a potential alternative to the mainline approach to magnetic confinement, with a couple of significant advantages. Fast ion slowing-down is important to the performance of these devices. I measured the dependence of the slowing-down rate on a number of factors, including the charge of the fast ions and the density of the plasma. I also investigated a couple of different properties of the simulation software itself. In particular, LSP simplifies physical systems by clumping together individual particles into macroparticles, and I studied the implications that this had for our results. During this summer, I learned a great deal about computational plasma physics, and about scientific research in general. This project has reinforced my interest in pursuing physics research in the future.

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Lavrov, Nicholas ’15

Chemical and Biological Engineering

PROJECT

Photochemistry at Hematite (Fe2O3) Surfaces for Production of Renewable Hydrogen

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton University Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Bruce Koel, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering

With the increasing costs of fossil fuels and the continual introduction of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, providing clean, renewable energy has become an intense area of research. One alternative fuel source is hydrogen gas obtained from water splitting. In order for hydrogen fuel to become a viable fuel source, however, efficient means of water splitting must be developed. This summer, I worked in a lab with the goal of creating a catalyst that would lower the voltage required to split water, making it more economically feasible. I explored the use of plasma treatment to alter the surface of iron, nickel and cobalt foils to reach this goal. I learned how to use characterization techniques such as electrochemical tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and applied my knowledge of chemistry to determine the effects of the plasma on the metal surfaces. By the end of the summer, we saw minor improvements in the water splitting efficiency. I was able to contribute to a growing body of research, and I hope to see more improvements in this research in the future. I enjoyed putting to work some of the concepts I have learned in my engineering courses.

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Lin, Jonathan ’17

Computer Science

PROJECT

Identifying Mechanisms for Pacific Warm Pool Acidification with Earth System Models

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Stephan Fueglistaler, Assistant Professor Geosciences; Keith Rodgers, Research Scholar, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

This summer, I collaborated with Keith Rodgers of the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences department in calculating the effects of human-induced changes on marine organisms and ocean ecosystems. Specifically, we used the trends and noise of the ESM2M model to calculate when ocean acidification, ocean warming, ocean de-oxygenation, and biological changes would emerge and become measurable. This topic was especially important as the cumulative impact of multiple stressors on ocean ecosystems may lead to damage far more severe than that from individual threats alone. Throughout the summer, I definitely gained an open perspective to what life is like as a graduate student in geosciences (specifically atmospheric and oceanic science). I also gained many scientific critical thinking skills, and developed a methodical approach to attacking scientific problems. Before this summer I was already interested in atmospheric sciences, and this internship definitely influenced my interest in the broader atmospheric and ocean system. I look forward to taking more courses in these areas.

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Ma, Daniel ’17

PROJECT

Measurement of Methane Leakage from Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Professor Denise Mauzerall Group, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Denise Mauzerall, Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering and Public and International Affairs

Although methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas (AOG) wells constitute a significant percentage of total U.S. methane emissions, few attempts have been made to accurately quantify these emissions. Working with a team of other students, I took methane samples from AOG wells in western Pennsylvania. In order to accurately estimate methane emissions, we designed, constructed, and prepared containers to collect and store these gas samples. We also learned how to analyze gas samples via gas chromatography and how to quantify the methane emissions. As a side project, I examined scientific research and historical data in order to estimate the total number of AOG wells in Pennsylvania and the economic costs/benefits of various strategies for mitigating emissions. These estimates were necessary for accurately estimating statewide anthropogenic methane emissions and developing policy recommendations for mitigating AOG wells in Pennsylvania and the rest of the United States. This internship has strengthened my interest in sustainable energy and the economics of greenhouse gas mitigation. I will continue working on this project during the year and hope to pursue a similar topic for my independent work.

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Woodrow Wilson School

PROJECT

Subtropical Ocean Productivity in a Warming World

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Sigman, Professor, Geosciences

This summer I interned in the Sigman Lab at Princeton University where I worked on the nutrient cycle between corals and their photosynthetic symbionts and how it changes in a warming world. One of the most salient signs of global warming is coral bleaching, the phenomena where corals eject their symbionts in response to a change in temperature and transform a coral reef into a bleach-white expanse of calcium carbonate. My tasks this summer included calibrating an Elemental Analyser to be sensitive to isotopic differences at the nano-mole scale, establishing a procedure for coral-symbiont separation and analyzing samples for isotopic differentials. I also spent a week in Bermuda collecting samples for my analysis. I experienced firsthand how fieldwork is accomplished and the importance of teamwork and communication while out in the field. I wish that I had partaken in this internship earlier in my Princeton career, as it would have definitely changed my academic trajectory. Nonetheless, this internship was an extremely rewarding experience and I am grateful that I had the chance to conduct scientific fieldwork and research before I graduate.

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Development

Andres, Aubree ’17

Undeclared

PROJECT

Habitat Restoration: Rangeland and Wildlife Project

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mpala Research Centre, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

I worked at the Mpala Research Centre outside of Nanyuki, Kenya for six weeks with Professor Dan Rubenstein. For this project, I went out with my research partners every day to collect data in the field. We were looking for a legacy of a holistic grazing system (cows would graze intensely for two-week periods of time on small plots of land during the rainy season) on the land where local goats and sheep were grazing during the dry season. Some days we would be weighing the goats and sheep to track their growth, and other days we would be running vegetation diversity/biomass transects to examine the plant life found in areas that were used for holistic grazing and in areas that were not used. Over the course of six weeks, I was able to fully take over the data collection part of this project, which is a skill and responsibility that I never would have learned had I not worked with PEI. If I do choose to major in EEB at Princeton, I would love to continue with this research for a junior paper and senior thesis topic.

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Culver, Benjamin ’16

PROJECT

Ecosystem spatial pattern and development opportunities in African rangelands

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mpala, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Robert Pringle, Professor, Geosciences

This summer, Katie Grabowski and I were interns for Professor Rob Pringle. We primarily worked with one of his graduate students on research for his doctoral dissertation. We studied three species of plants in the Kenyan rangelands within a genus called Barleria. Our main focus was to attempt to see if there were noticeable differences within each of the same species when they were growing unassociated (isolated, at least 1m from other plants) versus associated (growing in association with another larger plant that provides extra protection). We found that associated plants seem to invest less in plant defense and more in height and leaf area. The data collection is ongoing; we set up a number of manipulation experiments to determine the mechanism by which this observation is produced (shade, water loss, herbivory, etc.). Some of these manipulations include trimming larger trees growing in association with a Barleria species to remove the association and create an unassociated plant, and cutting off all of the spines on Barleria to determine their effectiveness in defending against grazing. This experience helped introduce me to the ecological research career path; however, I learned that I would like to be involved with more policy-associated areas.

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Grabowski, Katie ’16

PROJECT

Ecosystem spatial pattern and development opportunities in African rangelands

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mpala Research Centre, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Robert Pringle, Professor, Geosciences

I spent this summer at the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya. This was my first opportunity to do field research, and I was fortunate to be able to assist with two research projects. The first project involved working with Tyler Coverdale, an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) PhD candidate. We looked at the genus Barleria, a spiny shrub found in African savannas. We asked how the plant decides whether to invest more in protection or growth. To answer this question, we gathered data on several aspects of the plant’s size and defenses in different sub habitats (for example, in a protected enclosure or associated with a spiny tree versus out in the open). The second project involved looking at ecosystem spatial patterning. We looked at termite mounds and how the productivity of an area varies in correlation with its nearness to the closest mound. There are also many other factors that affect this patterning, and we are working to model the ecosystem better so that its response to future climate events might be better predicted. I learned how to set up experiments and collect data in the field. I know that this experience will be invaluable when I start work on my senior thesis.

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Gupta, Devansh ’17

Electrical Engineering

PROJECT

Muchebe Community Water Project, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

This summer, as part of the implementation team of the Princeton University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, I worked on providing clean, accessible drinking water to the residents in the community of Muchebe, Kenya. I helped design and build a 67,500L rainwater catchment system that harvested water from the roof of Muchebe Primary School. The work involved installing gutters along the roofs, laying underground piping around the school, excavating trenches and pits, building lowered concrete foundations to place the storage tanks on, and constructing roofed water dispensing systems. We taught the residents how to maintain the system, and held comprehensive training sessions to encourage the community to incorporate better sanitation practices. This trip was an immensely valuable experience for me, and I will cherish the time I got to spend living with the community. During this project, I got a first-hand view of some of the major international development challenges that our world faces today. But more importantly, I saw how sustainable engineering projects can make a real impact on overcoming these challenges by providing basic necessities, like safe drinking water, to the millions of people who don’t have access to them. This experience reaffirmed my decision to pursue engineering at Princeton University.

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Hung, Brendan ’17

PROJECT

Muchebe Community Water Project, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Kenya team of the Princeton University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders is working on providing clean, accessible drinking water to the residents in the community of Muchebe, Kenya. As part of a five-year commitment with the local community, our team helped design and build a 67,500L rainwater catchment system that harvested water from the roof of Muchebe Primary School. This project involved installing gutters along the roofs, laying pipes around the school and excavating a pit for our storage tanks. We worked alongside community members in building the system out of locally available materials. Additionally, we taught them both how to maintain the system and also how to develop better sanitation. This trip was an immensely valuable chance for us to learn about international development challenges as well as ways to run a sustainable engineering program within a community. Looking forward, we hope that by raising awareness of the risks of poor hygiene and waterborne illnesses, community members will encourage other members to share proper sanitary practices. This will, in turn, allow the members of the community to be healthier and thus be able to work and go to school.

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Lane, Haley ’16

PROJECT

Climate Change Impacts on Snowmelt-Dependent Agricultural Systems Near Mount Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Ecohydrology Lab, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Kelly Caylor, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Drew Gower, Ph.D. Candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

The area surrounding Mt. Kenya is unique due to the sharp precipitation gradient the peak generates. Because of this precipitation disparity intrinsic to the Laikipia Plateau, the region is home to both large scale industrial farming and communities afflicted by serious drought. The overarching goal of this project was to determine water availability in both upstream and downstream communities and to assess the relative effectiveness of the governmental structures that systematize local water usage. In addition to collaborating with local government officials, my work centered on profiling the stream systems flowing down from Mt. Kenya. For seven weeks, our group focused on gauging flow rates at ten different sites along the Nanyuki River and its tributaries, the Likii and Timau. For the final two weeks, we focused on testing water and plant samples for both isotope and turbidity analysis. This internship offered me the chance to gain valuable experience in both field work and lab analysis. Moreover, it exposed me to the diverse culture and extraordinary ecology inherent to Kenya. This experience has inspired me to pursue thesis research based on fieldwork, and it also fostered a personal interest in sustainable development that I will carry with me as I consider future career goals.

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Luo, Jessica ’15

PROJECT

Muchebe Community Water Project

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Kenya team of the Princeton University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders is working on providing clean, accessible drinking water to the residents in the community of Muchebe, Kenya. As part of a five-year commitment to the local community, our team helped design and build a 67,500L rainwater catchment system that harvested water from the roof of Muchebe Primary School. This project involved installing gutters along the roofs, laying pipes around the school and excavating a pit for our storage tanks. We worked alongside community members in building the system out of locally available materials. Additionally, we taught them both how to maintain the system and also how to develop better sanitation. This trip was an immensely valuable chance for us to learn about international development challenges as well as ways to run a sustainable engineering program within a community. Looking forward, we hope that by raising awareness of the risks of poor hygiene and waterborne illnesses, community members will encourage others to share proper sanitary practices. This will, in turn, allow the members of the community to be healthier and thus be able to work and go to school.

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Luo, Dee ’16

PROJECT

Using Crowdsourcing and Big Data to Understand Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Kelly Caylor, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Lyndon Estes, Associate Research Scholar, Woodrow Wilson School; Stephanie Debats, Ph.D. Candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Mapping Africa project was formed as an initiative to collect a more accurate understanding of farmland distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, the project uses crowd-sourcing to collect mapped data, which can be costly and inefficient. This summer, I worked with PhD student Stephanie Debats to develop a random forest algorithm to take satellite imagery of land in South Africa and accurately classify fields based on feature extraction. This type of land classification has not been explored much in the merging fields of remote sensing and computer vision. To accomplish this task, I learned about methods and applications of image segmentation, image processing techniques, and pixel-based feature classification. On the side, I also worked in R and QGIS to do spatial analysis on LANDSAT imagery as well as to build our available testing data for classification. Through this internship, I have been able to gain a stronger foundation in MATLAB programming and machine learning algorithms which I hope to continue to develop to help prepare me for a career in the technology industry, and to better understand and work toward solving global issues.

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Martindale, Dayton ’15

Astrophysical Sciences

PROJECT

The Food Project Analysis of Dining Services Purchases and Food Miles Carbon Project

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mpala Research Centre, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Nancy Rubenstein, Princeton Environmental Institute

The Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs, formed through Mpala Research Centre’s ties with local schools, are experiential after-school sessions that teach children basic biology and Earth science. For six weeks I stayed at Mpala and helped teach these classes, engaging in interactive lessons that included games, artistic projects, and experiments. Once I had returned to Princeton, I took what I learned to help develop a modified Conservation Club curriculum for U.S. classrooms. We had to adapt to America’s science standards, as well as make the lesson plans accessible to an audience that sees more deer than zebras. While I am majoring in astrophysics, I’m interested in science communication more broadly. This was a beautiful opportunity for me to explore a science I haven’t focused on as much at Princeton, and share it with others in a fun and accessible way. The focus on pressing environmental issues gave the work special social significance, making it particularly meaningful. I am more committed than ever to spreading science to people all over the world, and in so doing perhaps aid the creation of a just and sustainable society.

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Morgan, Taylor ’16

PROJECT

Climate Change Impacts on Snowmelt-Dependent Agricultural Systems Near Mount Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton EcoHydrology Lab, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Kelly Caylor, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Drew Gower, Ph.D. Candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Along with fellow intern Haley Lane, I spent nine weeks in central Kenya this past summer conducting both field and lab work for PhD student Drew Gower. We looked at local climate-dependent water availability from rivers flowing through and around Nanyuki, Kenya, coming off of centrally located Mount Kenya. Our field work included taking measurements of depth and water velocity along several locations of the river in order to determine flow, collecting water samples for analysis, and interacting and working side-by-side with local community members. Laboratory work included analysis of both water sample isotopes and water turbidity. Along with all of the fieldwork and research experience I gained this past summer, I also gained insight into a culture much different from my own, I am extremely grateful for this experience. The local community was welcoming and quite interested in our research, which I found encouraging and one of the most rewarding pieces of my work. This internship helped me realize all of the incredible directions I could take a with degree from the Civil and Environmental Engineering department. This was my first real experience conducting research, both through fieldwork and lab work, and I really enjoyed both of these parts of the research process. In the future I hope to incorporate these types of hands-on methods into my thesis and ideally into my career as well.

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Padukone, Anchal ’16

PROJECT

Habitat Restoration: Rangeland and Wildlife Project

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mpala Research Center, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

This summer, while based at the Mpala Research Center in Kenya, I studied the effects of holistic cattle management on livestock and rangeland health, people’s livelihoods, and on wildlife. Holistic grazing methods involve concentrating livestock in small areas and moving them frequently across grazing patches. This method is used to aid soil water and nutrient flow, and to prevent the long-term depletion of grass cover caused by continuous grazing over an area. In two neighboring group ranches that had employed different grazing systems, I studied several possible effects of holistic grazing: on biodiversity, overall plant cover, livestock milk yields and growth rates, and animal movement and distribution patterns. I also conducted some preliminary statistical analyses of our collected data, which suggested higher biodiversity and plant cover in the holistic grazing area. I honed a wide range of analytical and fieldwork-related skills, and grew familiar with equipment and software I had never used before. I had the opportunity to speak with scientists and students from a variety of backgrounds, and learned about the wide scope of research being pursued at Mpala. From this valuable summer experience, I gained a deeper appreciation for ecology and field biology. I hope to continue studying savannah ecosystems for my senior thesis and beyond.

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Paine, Annelies ’16

Woodrow Wilson School

PROJECT

Teaching Assistant for Conservation Clubs

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Environmental Institute, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Nancy Rubenstein, Princeton Environmental Institute

During my PEI internship I worked as a teacher for the Northern Kenyan Conservation Clubs, an after-school program that promotes conservation and sustainability through experiential learning. My colleagues and I prepared and taught lessons for primary and secondary school students on a variety of topics from evolution to endangered species that utilized hands-on experiences such as games, scavenger hunts, and outdoor activities. We also helped to organize the annual Community Conservation Day, which brought together students, teachers, parents, and community members to share conservation projects such as alternative cooking methods, tree planting, and approaches to soil erosion. The highlight of my summer was our Indigenous Knowledge Project, where we invited community elders to share their memories of the wildlife and the landscape in the area, and how it has changed over time. This project showed me, as well as my students, how Kenya has been affected by poaching, population growth, climate change, and invasive species at a local level. My experience working with the Northern Conservation Clubs will be invaluable as I study development and politics at Princeton.

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Spiegel, Marcus ’17

PROJECT

Soils in Africa: Effects of Salinization on Vertisol Patterns in Central Kenya, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Caylor Lab Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Kelly Caylor, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Keita DeCarlo, Ph.D. Candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Desiccation cracking in the black cotton soils of Kenya influences both the flow of water into the ground and the drying of the soil. An understanding of these physical processes is integral to our knowledge of the water cycle and Earth-atmosphere greenhouse gas exchange. As a research assistant this summer in the Caylor Lab, I was investigating how biological factors—specifically vegetation, animal compaction, and the presence of termite mounds—influence the depth and extensiveness of these crack networks in the swelling soil. In order to characterize these crack networks, my research group poured resin, a two-part liquid substance that hardens when mixed, into cracks in areas of soil that had been affected by the biological factors we were studying. We excavated the resulting casts and generated digital representations of them using medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Through this research, I gained insight into how different climate and environmental factors can affect land’s physical processes. Furthermore, I learned how to systematically conduct experiments in the field and how to use computer programming to perform image analysis. This project has kindled my interest in a career in which I can spend time conducting research outdoors.

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Wheatley, Alex ’16

Chemical and Biological Engineering

PROJECT

Teaching Assistant for Conservation Clubs

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mpala Research Center, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Nancy Rubenstein, Princeton Environmental Institute

As a teaching assistant with the Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs, I taught ecology, biology, and the basic principles of conservation to schoolchildren in 11 rural schools in Laikipia County. The program also works with teachers to promote experiential learning techniques. The goal of the Conservation Clubs is to equip the next generation of herders and pastoralists with the information they will need to reduce human-wildlife conflict, improve resource conservation, and ultimately make herding and grazing more sustainable. My duties included planning, organizing, and preparing lessons, and then teaching these lessons in the Conservation Clubs each afternoon. This program showed me the many challenges that hinder conservation efforts in Kenya—from charcoal burning and retaliation killing to bad roads and poor communication. However, I was inspired by the kids in the club every day; their knowledge of and visions for their community, county, and country gave me hope for a more sustainable future. I left this summer certain that I want to incorporate teaching into my life after college (as a teacher, tutor, or coach) and resolute to continue my education as a global citizen.

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Yang, Helen ’15

English

PROJECT

The Food Project Analysis of Dining Services Purchases and Food Miles Carbon Project

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Environmental Institute, Program in Teacher Preparation, Princeton, NJ, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Nancy Rubenstein, Princeton Environmental Institute

This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in an internship that was created through the collaboration between Program in Teacher Preparation and PEI. Our primary goal was to bridge communication and experiential learning about conservation and the environment between the Kenyan and American classrooms. For six weeks, we observed classrooms of Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs. It was fascinating to learn the culture of environmental conservation in Kenya, especially because the natural landscape is so rich in biodiversity. How the Kenyan people viewed what we call “environmental stewardship,” if and how these concepts were taught in communities, and the relationship the people had with natural resources lent a new light to my own knowledge and perception of environmental policymaking, especially as a global effort. For another four weeks, we returned to the United States to create a curriculum that could capture the Kenyan classroom experience, but also could be widely accessible and relevant to American students and teachers. During this time, I was able to learn and better grasp what being a teacher entailed, and how to create lesson plans that could engage and motivate students. This internship helped me think about my thesis because it opened my perspective on what it means to interpret nature and environmental stewardship through different cultures.

Zhao, Katherine ’17

Undeclared

PROJECT

Water and Isotopes in Central Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Caylor Ecohydrology Lab and Mpala Research Center, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Kelly Caylor, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Hilary Wayland, Ph.D. Candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

This summer, I worked at Mpala Research Center in Laikipia, Kenya as an intern studying the photosynthetic characteristics of the African Acacia trees. I learned to use instruments such as the Li-Cor 6400 to record photosynthesis and transpiration rates. Tracking rates of photosynthesis and transpiration throughout the day, we learned about the vulnerability of Acacia leaves to drought and water stress. By exploring how carbon fixation and stomatal conductance vary with leaf age, we can understand more about the interaction of this plant with water in its environment. I learned a lot about the methods of data collection and fieldwork, and how to evaluate the relationships between keystone plants, their environments, and the availability of water in their surrounding areas. In addition to exposing me to field research, this internship also allowed me to explore the natural environment of the central Kenya highlands—the elephant herds that roam through Mpala, and the wild dog packs and elusive cheetahs and lions that prowl about. I also made friends with Kenyan students and researchers, sharing our cultures with each other around the dinner table, safely inside the fences of Mpala.

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Sustainability

Baker, Colleen ’16

Anthropology

PROJECT

Catch Share Design Center Fisheries Research

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Environmental Defense Fund, San Francisco, CA

MENTOR(S)

Kate Bonzon, Environmental Defense Fund

Globally, 87% of assessed fish stocks are either overexploited or fully exploited. Overfishing is pushing our oceans to a breaking point. The Environmental Defense Fund advocates “catch shares” as a solution to this problem. A management technique that financially incentivizes sustainable fishing, catch shares have proven incredibly successful. My work with the Catch Share Design Center focused on area-based catch shares, or territorial use rights for fishing (TURFs), where fishermen are allocated an area of fishing grounds and are held accountable for sustainably fishing the stock within that space. I was involved with database entry, research, and writing briefs on different catch share programs globally, and each taught me more and more about the important connection between culture and environmental action. I learned that solutions which are built from the bottom up are much more effective than those that are forced upon a culture; and as an anthropology major, this opened many research doors for me. This internship has given me new skills, like policy and governance analysis, data management and quality assurance, and a desire to pursue a career in implementing sustainable solutions.

Bartolucci, Raymond ’17

PROJECT

Field Geological Study of the Evolution of Life, Climate, Magmatism, and Geography

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton University Department of Geosciences, Maloof Group, Namibia

MENTOR(S)

Adam Maloof, Associate Professor, Geosciences; Blair Schoene, Assistant Professor, Geosciences

The two principle goals of our field research group were to collect geological samples of hard-bodied Ediacaran fossils (specifically Cloudina) for three-dimensional morphological analysis back at Princeton, and to observe the context in which these samples were found, in order to gain an understanding of the climatic environment in which these organisms lived. We contextualized the samples we took from two primary sites in southern Namibia by taking stratigraphic sections, creating digital elevation models through drone flights, and mapping the thrombolitic reefs in which Cloudina fossils were found. By being in the field for two months, I developed keen skills of observation and a better understanding of how different rocks formed and what different features may indicate about the paleoclimate of the region. The experience of camping and actually living in my research for two months was life-changing for me. It taught me how to go about planning and carrying out research, and also taught me the importance of truly observing and gaining a context for my subject. All of these skills will help me to continue analyzing the data from this trip back at Princeton, and to carry out my own research in the future.

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Bolton, Eric ’15

PROJECT

Field Geological Study of the Evolution of Life, Climate, Magmatism, and Geography

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Earth History Group, Australia

MENTOR(S)

Adam Maloof, Associate Professor, Geosciences; Blair Schoene, Assistant Professor, Geosciences

This summer I did field work in Australia with two graduate students in the Geosciences Department at Princeton University. The topics of their research were different, but were focused on the same region in Western Australia: the Pilbara Craton. One goal of our research was to use paleomagnetism and geochronology to retrace the geographical location and movement of the craton through study of the 2.7 Ga. Fortescue formation. The other goal was to use geochronology to understand the history and internal structure of the Muccan and Mount Edgar granite domes within the craton. We camped, hiked and drove around the Pilbaran wilderness to find and collect rock samples. The paleomagnetism research involved drilling to collect core samples of basalts, and collecting sediment samples for geochronology. The granite dome research involved studying deformation of granites in different parts of the domes and collecting block samples for geochronology. I learned a lot about mineralogy, petrology and structural geology, plus I learned many important life skills over the course of the summer. As a result of this internship, I plan to work on thermal diffusivity models to better understand the cooling history of the Pilbara granite domes for my senior independent work.

Campbell, Ethan ’16

PROJECT

Seasonal Cycle of Oxygen in the Weddell Sea from Autonomous Profiling Floats

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

MENTOR(S)

Stephen Riser, University of Washington’s School of Oceanography

Under the guidance of Professor Stephen Riser of the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography, I spent the summer analyzing data from Argo profiling floats drifting in the Weddell Sea region of Antarctica. The Weddell Sea is an area of great interest due to its marginal stability and influence on global heat, carbon, and freshwater budgets, yet it is historically under-sampled. Its remote location and sea ice cover continue to hinder shipborne observation; however, the recent development of autonomous floats has enabled year-round profiling of the region, even from beneath winter sea ice. While exploring temperature and salinity measurements from this array of floats, I found evidence of dynamical processes near the seamount, or underwater mountain, known as Maud Rise. Multiple signatures of these processes were apparent, including a halo of persistent low sea ice concentration and warm, upwelled water in the vicinity of the seamount. In addition to this finding and other discoveries, I spent much of the summer preparing the Argo data set for further quantitative analysis for my upcoming Geosciences junior paper, which I look forward to writing.

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Physics

PROJECT

Evolution of Himalayan Glaciers under Changing Climate Conditions, Peru

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Olga Sergienko, Research Glaciologist, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

The goal of my summer internship was to investigate the evolution of Himalayan glaciers under changing climate conditions. Using raw data from automated weather stations in the Himalayas as well as climate model output from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), I investigated the correlation between temperature and precipitation over the last 60 years and developed an ablation and mass-balance model for glaciers, specific to the region of the Himalayas that they were in. I then began work on investigating the relationship between temperature and precipitation using predictions from the model to forecast the future evolution of glaciers. I really enjoyed working on a self-driven research project, and the range of seminars and discussions at GFDL and the Atmospheric and Oceanic Science’s program was extremely stimulating! I intend to continue this research for either a junior paper or my senior thesis.

Simms, Zoe ’17

PROJECT

Leafing Through Rainforest Tree Competitive Strategies in Nutrient Limited Ecosystems

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Costa Rica

MENTOR(S)

Stephen Pacala, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cleo Chou, Ph.D. Candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Tropical rainforests are among the earth’s most productive and diverse ecosystems. Yet, while they have potential to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, perhaps mitigating climate change, their growth is limited by low soil nutrient levels. How do the dynamics of nutrient limitation vary across tree species and functional types? How are they affected by light availability? This summer, I approached these questions as part of an ongoing fertilization study in the lush lowland tropical rainforest of Costa Rica. Working with Cleo Chou, a PhD student in Princeton’s Department Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), I measured, fertilized, photographed, and collected leaf samples from the project’s study trees. I also designed and conducted an independent study to examine how leaf traits – size and mass per area – interact with nutrient limitation. This knowledge contributes our understanding of forest dynamics and applications such as climate modeling. In the process, I learned the essentials of fieldwork, particularly perseverance in the face of challenge and unpredictability. The experience reinvigorated my passion for ecology and the critical, big-picture questions it allows us to pose. It opened my eyes to the career possibilities within ecology and academia, and reinforced my awe for the science and mystery of the natural world.

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Soerens, Stephen ’15

PROJECT

What Trees Could Learn From Alan Greenspan

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Caylor Group/Pacala Group, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Kelly Caylor, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Adam Wolf, Associate Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

As part of the Princeton Ecohydrology Lab this past summer, I investigated how trees use water in response to different environmental conditions. The way in which tree species will respond to drought and other consequences of climate change is an important variable in climate models. To understand these ecosystem changes, we need to determine how species balance the risk of damaging their tissue (cavitation in the xylem) with the reward of photosynthesis in order to outgrow and outlast their competitors. In researching this question, I used methods that employed both low-tech, mostly homemade instrumentation, and the more hi-tech LI-COR gas exchange system that is familiar to the plant physiologist. These methods required thorough troubleshooting as complications arose, but provided me with the experience needed to confidently investigate plant hydraulic systems. Ultimately I was able to gather meaningful data that demonstrated the value and validity of the combination of methods used. After mastering the methodology and gathering some promising data over the summer, I hope to be able to further investigate drought response as part of my senior independent research.

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Stonesifer, Connor ’16

PROJECT

Lignin Phenols in Microbial and Marine Organic Matter Production in the Open Ocean

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), Bermuda

MENTOR(S)

Natasha McDonald, Bermuda Institute of Oceanic Sciences

As an intern for the Bermuda Bio Optics Program, I worked with scientists at the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences (BIOS) to investigate a class of dissolved organic molecules within the ocean known as chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). CDOM acts as a kind of sunscreen, regulating the amount of UV-Vis light that penetrates the subsurface ocean. In acting as a light-limiter, CDOM can control the photosynthetic activity of the ocean’s primary producers. By studying the molecules in CDOM, we can better understand how the underwater light field is regulated and come to a more accurate picture of the health of the marine ecosystem. My summer research focused specifically on one molecule within the CDOM pool: lignin, a plant-based polymer. I worked alongside a photochemist and a microbiologist on two experiments that tested the hypothesis that lignin is degraded by the metabolic processes of marine microbes within the Sargasso Sea. Wonderfully, our data supported our hypothesis! I studied and implemented analytical chemistry techniques, had access to top-notch scientific equipment, and had the pleasure of being able to shed light on a really interesting question in oceanic research. This summer has taught me skills in critical thinking and experimental planning that I know will be invaluable in my senior thesis research.

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Tan, Michelle-Ann ’16

Molecular Biology

PROJECT

Biological and Physical Controls on Phytoplankton Growth in the Southern Ocean

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

MENTOR(S)

Stephen Pacala, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

In the Department of Commerce Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab (GFDL), scientists have developed a computer model called the ESM2M, meant to portray physical and chemical trends and interactions in the ocean and atmosphere all over the world. However, there has been a discrepancy between the way the model portrays chlorophyll concentration seasonality in the Southern Ocean and our observations of this seasonality based on BioArgo floats and other field data collections. This summer, I worked with Dr. Rebecca Asch in the Sarmiento Group to further investigate what biological and physical controls of chlorophyll concentration in the Southern Ocean are most important according to the ESM2M, how these controls work according to the ESM2M, and how these controls might be different according to our observations. I used the graphing and statistical tools in Matlab to observe the nature and strength of these control-to-phytoplankton concentration relationships to better understand what was going on in the model. Though not directly related to the research I might undertake as a future molecular biologist, my internship was an enriching experience. I developed Matlab skills, which can take on many different applications; I learned to appreciate the integrated nature of the science of oceanography; and I learned to appreciate the work that goes into a model and the importance of accurate models.

Tasistro-Hart, Adrian ’17

PROJECT

Field Geological Study of the Evolution of Life, Climate, Magmatism, and Geography, Namibia

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Maloof Group, Princeton University, NJ, Namibia

MENTOR(S)

Adam Maloof, Associate Professor, Geosciences; Blair Schoene, Assistant Professor, Geosciences

Ray Bartolucci and I worked for two months as field assistants to a PhD student, Akshay Mehra, in Namibia. Our work focused on finding and mapping 540-million-year-old reefs in which one of the first bio-mineralizing organisms, Cloudina, is present in large quantities. Whenever we encountered a reef, we studied its overall shape as well as the morphologies of the structures within it. We also sampled the best-preserved specimens of Cloudina, which we will process here at Princeton. Finally, we used a drone to take hundreds of high-resolution aerial images, which we are now compositing into 3D models of the terrain, in the hopes that we can compute spatial statistics on the regions that we mapped and sampled from. Through this internship I learned a lot about the scientific process and effective data collection. We developed the ability to constantly question our observations as we honed our observational skills, and we also learned how to adapt to our new ideas to collect data that was meaningful. My first experience with fieldwork during this internship helped solidify my intention to major in Geosciences, and I definitely want to continue fieldwork for my own independent work.

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Taubin, Sol ’16

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

PROJECT

Quantitative Outcome Analysis & Sustainable Development Policy in the Amazon Basin

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Amazon Environmental Research Institute, Brazil

MENTOR(S)

Paolo Brando, Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM)

In the last decade, Brazil has seen millions of hectares of its native biomes logged and burned in response to rising global demands for raw goods and cheap food sources. These explicit regional changes in land use, in conjunction with global climate trends, have spilled over to affect local climactic patterns, energy fluxes, and ecosystem health, and have further marginalized populations already vulnerable to anthropogenic and climactic pressures. Interning at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute’s field site on the Brazilian agricultural frontier this summer, I had the opportunity to work side-by-side with leading scientists, policy makers, and field technicians on these issues. I learned cutting-edge methodology in data collection and field research, experimental design techniques, and data analysis in R; was exposed firsthand to deforestation for agricultural production, and improved my Portuguese. My personal projects included writing code to interpret and visualize eddy flux tower data and helping collect and treat water and soil samples for electro-conductivity and contamination experiments. My internship was an incredible experience, and has informed my plans for junior independent work and my senior thesis. I hope to build on the foundation of spatial modeling and statistical analysis of converging socio-environmental pressures that I developed this summer, and further explore the intersection of environmental change and marginalization.

Umanksy-Castro, Joshua ’17

PROJECT

Potable Water Project for La Pitajaya, Peru

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

This summer, I worked in Peru as part of Princeton’s Engineers without Borders travel team to finish building a water system for the community of La Pitajaya. Our third implementation trip, we had already brought water to the upper part of the community, La Pitajaya Alta, and were now starting the water system for the Baja part of the community. As the source was located 3km away, most of our work involved trenching and installing the pipeline, as well as carrying materials up and down the mountains to where they were needed. After six weeks, we managed to get water flowing in every single tapstand in La Pitajaya Baja, as well as connect two more community members to the Alta system. Looking ahead to next summer, we plan to assess both water systems, as well as search for potential projects in the area. While my post-graduate plans are undecided, this summer made me realize I’d like to pursue a career where I can make this same type of impact, and know that I’m making a difference in the world.