Environmental engineering student aims to make an impact on the world
Caitlin Fanello was inspired by the power and necessity of water in daily life
Caitlin Fanello, a fifth-year environmental engineering student at the University of Cincinnati, is motivated by the possibility of making a difference in the world. Of the many diverse paths students can take in environmental engineering, Fanello chose to focus her studies on water, including water resources and water treatment.
Caitlin Fanello is an environmental engineering student focused on water resources. Photo/provided
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.
For her next rotation, she moved to Billings, Mont., to work for a company called DOWL, where she worked specifically in water resources.
“At DOWL, I learned a lot of new things. They allowed me to go out into the field and work, so I got to experience Montana while I was working, which was really cool,” Fanello said.
Her final rotations were at Stantec, a company that focuses on sustainable engineering, where she delved deeper into water resources work, solidifying her passion for this sector of the industry.
Other than water resources, environmental engineers can focus their work on air pollution studies, greenhouse gases, monitoring what is released into the air, as well as wastewater treatment, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance, hazardous waste materials, and more.
When she graduates from UC in spring of 2025, Fanello plans to continue working in the water resources field and contribute to cleaning up the drinking water for communities and people around major cities.
Featured image at top: Caitlin Fanello focuses her studies on water. Photo/pixabay
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