Environmental engineering student aims to make an impact on the world

Environmental engineering is a highly multidisciplinary field, combining principles of civil and chemical engineering with an environmental foundation. Growing up, Fanello was always fascinated by water and its duality of being so destructive, but also extremely necessary for all forms of life. Additionally, she chose this field because it gave her the opportunity to make an impact on the world.

“I believe there is no longer a borderline between civil engineering, environmental engineering, and even chemical engineering,” said Soryong (Ryan) Chae, UC professor of environmental engineering. “Students looking for motivation to make the future more sustainable have a great opportunity with environmental engineering.”

Through the cooperative education (co-op) program, she was able to get exposed to different possibilities for her career.

She spent her first two co-op rotations at Kiewit, a North American-based construction and engineering organization. During her first rotation, she worked heavily on their greenhouse gas audits, calculating and understanding where their problem sources lie.

In her second rotation with Kiewit, the company sent her to a solar farm where they were conducting a project. She served as the contact for environmental compliance. In this role, she conducted stormwater inspections, analyzing where stormwater could erode the ground and where the company could be cited for noncompliance.