Susan E. Powers
Professor (Joined Clarkson in 1992)
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
103 CAMP
Clarkson University
Box 5700,
Potsdam, NY 13699-5700
Phone: 315-268-6542
FAX: 315-268-4494
E-mail: sep@clarkson.edu
CV: PDF
Education
Ph.D. Environmental Engineering – The University of Michigan 1992
M.S. Civil & Environmental Engineering – Clarkson University 1985
B.S. Chemical Engineering – Clarkson University 1983
Teaching Interests
In the wide range of classes that Dr. Powers has taught, she focuses on teaching the process of engineering problem solving in a real-world environment. By focusing on complex and relevant environmental problems, the importance of societal impacts and communication can be stressed as well as providing a basis and relevance for technical material needed to address the engineering problem. This approach has been used in classes designed for middle school science and technology subjects, undergraduate environmental engineering lab and capstone design classes, and graduate classes in groundwater flow, physico-chemical processes, and industrial ecology.
Dr. Powers is also the director of the Clarkson K-12 Project - Based Learning Partnership Program. This program places Clarkson students in local middle schools to teach a science and technology curriculum that focuses on solving environmental problems.
Research Interests
General area of interest includes understanding the physical and chemical phenomena associated with multiphase flow and contaminant transport in subsurface systems, with specific emphasis on the fate, transport, and remediation of nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in complex systems. Current research projects include the complexities associated with aquifer heterogeneities and non-ideal chemical mixtures such as coal tars and oxygenated gasoline. Experimental and mathematical modeling techniques are utilized in all research activities.
Research that has provided a solid understanding of the environmental fate of oxygenated gasoline has lead to an interest in the application of this science to aid in regulatory and policy decisions. Current projects in this area include life cycle management issues for gasoline, other transportation fuels and dairy waste-to-energy systems.
Recent Publications
Powers, S.E., D. Rice, B. Dooher P.J.J. Alvarez, "Replacing MTBE with Ethanol as a Gasoline Oxygenate - How May Ground Water Resources Be Impacted?" Environ. Sci. Technol. (35(1), 24A-30A, 2001.
Zheng, J., S.E. Powers, “Asphaltenes from coal tar and creosote: Their role in reversing the wettability of aquifer systems.” J. Colloid Interface Sci. 244(2): 365-371, 2001.
Hwang, S., K. Lee, D. Lee, and S.E. Powers, “Models for Estimating Soil Particle-Size Distributions.” Soil Sci. Am. J. 66(4): 1143-1150, 2002.
Giese, S.W., and S.E. Powers, “Using Polymer Solutions to Enhance the Recovery of Coal Tar and Creosote DNAPLs.” J. Contam. Hydrol. 58(1-2): 147-167, 2002.
Hugaboom, D.A., and S.E. Powers, “Recovery of Coal Tar and Creosote from Porous Media: The Influence of Wettability.” Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, 22(4): 83-90, 2002.
Ahmadi, A., B. Williamson, T.L. Theis, S.E. Powers, Life Cycle Inventory of Toner Produced for Xerographic Processes. J. Cleaner Production, 11(5): 573-582, 2003.
Hwang, S., and S.E. Powers, “Estimating Unique Soil Hydraulic Parameters from Multi-Step Outflow Experiments with Sandy Media.” Adv. Water Res. 26(4): 445-456, 2003.
Hwang, S.I. and S.E. Powers, “Lognormal Distribution Model for Estimating Soil Water Retention Curves for Sandy Soils.” Soil Science, 168(3): 156-166, 2003.
Nambi, I.M., and S.E. Powers, “Mass Transfer Correlations for NAPL Dissolution from
Regions with High Initial Saturations.” Water Resour. Res., 39(2): SBH 4-1 – 4-11, 2003.
McDowell C.J., and S.E. Powers, “Mechanisms Affecting the Infiltration and Redistribution of Ethanol-Blended Gasoline in the Vadose Zone.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 37(9): 1803-1810, 2003.
Hwang, S., and S.E. Powers, “Using Particle-Size Distribution Models to Estimate Soil Hydraulic
Properties.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 67(7), 1103-1112, 2003.
Zheng, J. and S.E. Powers, “Identifying the Effects of Polar Constituents in Coal-Derived DNAPLs on Interfacial Tension.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 37(14): 3090-3094, 2003.
McDowell C.J., T. Buscheck and S.E. Powers, “Behavior of Gasoline Pools Following a Denatured Ethanol Spill.” Ground Water 41(6): 746-757, 2003.
Powers, S.E., "Preparing College Students to Teach an Environmental Problem Solving Curriculum to Middle School Students." In: ASEE 2003 Annual Conference Proceedings: Staying in Tune with Engineering Education. (Nashville, TN, June 2003).
Powers, S.E., M. Graham, T. Schwob, J. Dewaters, “Diversity in K-12 Initiatives to Attract a Diverse Pool of Engineering Students.” In: Proceedings of the Frontiers in Education Conference, (Boulder CO November 5-8, 2003).
Powers, S.E., A.A. Williamson, “Lifecycle Management.” In: Strategic Environmental Management for Engineers, R. Bellandi (ed.) J. Wiley and Sons, New York, Chapter 2, pp. 71-130, 2004.
Powers, S.E., J. Dewaters, “Creating Project-Based Experiences for University- K-12 Partnerships.” In: Proceedings of the Frontiers in Education Conference, (Savannah GA November, 2004, on CD).
Hwang, S.I., K.P. Lee, D.S. Lee, S.E. Powers, “Effects of fractional wettability on capillary pressure-saturation-relative permeability relations of two-fluid systems.” Advances in Water Resources, 29(2): 212-226, 2006.
Grimes, H.G., T.P. Seager, T.L. Theis, S.E. Powers, “A game theory framework for cooperative management of refillable and disposable bottle lifecycles