Susan E. Powers
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.
Representative Research Publications
Dominguez-Faus, R., S.E. Powers, J. Burken, P. Alvarez, “The Water Footprint of Biofuels: A Drink or Drive Issue?” in press Env. Sci. Technol. (November 2008)
Dou, W., Omrane, K., S.J. Grimberg, M. Denham and S.E. Powers, “Characterization of DNAPL from the U.S. DOE Savannah River Site.” J. Contam. Hydrol., 97(1-2): 75-86, 2008. (doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2008.01.002 )
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.” J. Cleaner Prod., 15(17): 1618-1627, 2007 (doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2006.08.007 ).
Powers, S.E., “Integrating Variability into Inventory Estimates of Non-point Source Nutrient Loads from Energy Crop Production.” Int. J. LCA, 12(6): 391-398, 2007. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/lca2007.02.307 )
Lavigne, A., S.E. Powers, “Valuing fuel ethanol feedstock options from multiple energy perspectives: corn and corn stover feedstocks.” Energy Policy, 35: 5918–5930, 2007.
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.
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.
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., 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.
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.
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.
Representative Education Publications
Grimberg, S.J., T.A. Langen, L.D. Compeau, S.E. Powers, “A Theme-Based Seminar on Environmental Sustainability Improves Participant Satisfaction in an Undergraduate Summer Research Program.” J. Engrg. Educ., 97(1), 95-103, 2008.
Reinhart, D.R., C. R. Baillod (plus 15 co-authors, including S.E. Powers), “Environmental Engineering Body of Knowledge.” Report prepared for AAEE, 2008.
Powers, S.E., B. Brydges, P. Turner, G. Gotham, J.J. Carroll, D.G. Bohl “Successful Institutionalization of a K-12 - University STEM Partnership Program.” In: Proceedings of the 115th Annual ASEE Conference & Exposition (Pittsburgh PA, June, 2008, on CD, Session # AC 2008-1652) (winner of best paper award from the ASEE K-12 Division).
DeWaters, J., S.E. Powers, “Energy Literacy among Middle and High School Youth.” In: Proceedings of the 36th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (Saratoga Springs NY, Oct 2008, Session TA1-11, on CD)
DeWaters, J.E., S.E. Powers and M. Graham, “Developing an Energy Literacy Scale.” In: Proceedings of the 114th Annual ASEE Conference & Exposition (Honolulu HI, June, 2007, session AC 2007-1069, on CD).
Powers, S.E., “Note from Guest Editor - Pushing the Boundaries: Making Research and Education in Environmental Engineering and Science Count,” Environmental Engineering Science, 23(3): 417, 2006.
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.
Representative Research Publications
Dominguez-Faus, R., S.E. Powers, J. Burken, P. Alvarez, “The Water Footprint of Biofuels: A Drink or Drive Issue?” in press Env. Sci. Technol. (November 2008)
Dou, W., Omrane, K., S.J. Grimberg, M. Denham and S.E. Powers, “Characterization of DNAPL from the U.S. DOE Savannah River Site.” J. Contam. Hydrol., 97(1-2): 75-86, 2008. (doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2008.01.002 )
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.” J. Cleaner Prod., 15(17): 1618-1627, 2007 (doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2006.08.007 ).
Powers, S.E., “Integrating Variability into Inventory Estimates of Non-point Source Nutrient Loads from Energy Crop Production.” Int. J. LCA, 12(6): 391-398, 2007. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/lca2007.02.307 )
Lavigne, A., S.E. Powers, “Valuing fuel ethanol feedstock options from multiple energy perspectives: corn and corn stover feedstocks.” Energy Policy, 35: 5918–5930, 2007.
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.
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.
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., 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.
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.
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.
Representative Education Publications
Grimberg, S.J., T.A. Langen, L.D. Compeau, S.E. Powers, “A Theme-Based Seminar on Environmental Sustainability Improves Participant Satisfaction in an Undergraduate Summer Research Program.” J. Engrg. Educ., 97(1), 95-103, 2008.
Reinhart, D.R., C. R. Baillod (plus 15 co-authors, including S.E. Powers), “Environmental Engineering Body of Knowledge.” Report prepared for AAEE, 2008.
Powers, S.E., B. Brydges, P. Turner, G. Gotham, J.J. Carroll, D.G. Bohl “Successful Institutionalization of a K-12 - University STEM Partnership Program.” In: Proceedings of the 115th Annual ASEE Conference & Exposition (Pittsburgh PA, June, 2008, on CD, Session # AC 2008-1652) (winner of best paper award from the ASEE K-12 Division).
DeWaters, J., S.E. Powers, “Energy Literacy among Middle and High School Youth.” In: Proceedings of the 36th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (Saratoga Springs NY, Oct 2008, Session TA1-11, on CD)
DeWaters, J.E., S.E. Powers and M. Graham, “Developing an Energy Literacy Scale.” In: Proceedings of the 114th Annual ASEE Conference & Exposition (Honolulu HI, June, 2007, session AC 2007-1069, on CD).
Powers, S.E., “Note from Guest Editor - Pushing the Boundaries: Making Research and Education in Environmental Engineering and Science Count,” Environmental Engineering Science, 23(3): 417, 2006.