Susan E. Powers
Susan E. Powers
Professor (Joined Clarkson in 1992)
Associate Director for Sustainability, Institute for a Sustainable Environment
102 Rowley
Clarkson University
Box 5715,
Potsdam, NY 13699-5715
Phone: 315-268-6542
FAX: 315-268-4291
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
Dr. Powers’ has historically worked in the area of 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. Research projects have included the physical and chemical complexities associated with aquifer heterogeneities and non-ideal chemical mixtures such as coal tars and oxygenated gasoline.
Research on the environmental fate of oxygenated gasoline led to her interest in the application of this subsurface science to aid in regulatory and policy decisions with a broader perspective on the environmental impacts of energy policy over the life cycle of energy systems. Current projects in this area include environmental life cycle management issues for gasoline, other transportation fuels, and dairy waste-to-energy systems. Her current research is especially focused on defining and quantifying metrics that can be used to assess the energy and environmental benefits and liabilities associated with bioenergy systems.
Representative Research Publications
Kusiima, J.M., S.E. Powers, "Monetary Value of the Environmental and Health Externalities Associated with Production of Ethanol from Biomass Feedstocks. Energy Policy, 2010. (doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2010.01.010)
Powers, S.E., R. Dominguez-Faus, P.J.J. Alvarez, "Commentary - The water footprint of biofuel production in the United States." Biofuels, (invited for the inaugural issue) (in press) 2010.
Dominguez-Faus, R., S.E. Powers, J. Burken, P. Alvarez, “The Water Footprint of Biofuels: A Drink or Drive Issue?” Env. Sci. Technol. 43(9): 3005–3010, 2009 (feature) (DOI: 10.1021/es802162x) (Rice U. graduate student R. Dominguez-Faus received the 2009 NSF-AEESP Grand Challenge Student Paper Award for this paper)
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
Powers, S.E., B. Bridges, J.E. DeWaters, G. Gotham, M.M. Small, P. Turner, "K-12 Teacher Professional Development Effectively Offered by STEM Faculty from a Research University." In: Proceedings of the 117th Annual ASEE Conference & Exposition, Louisville KY, June 20-23, 2010.
DeWaters, J.E., and S.E. Powers, "WIP: The Relationship Between Energy Education and Energy Literacy - the Potential Benefit of Reaching a High Level of Rigor and Relevance." In: Proceedings of the 39th ASEE/IEE Frontiers in Education Conference, San Antonio, TX, October 18-21, 2009, paper number 1112.
Powers,S.E.,J.E. DeWaters,"Energy Systems and Solutions,"(an eight-lesson, 8th grade science curriculum), TeachEngineering Digital Library, 2009. (winner of 2009 Premier Curriculum Award for K-12 Engineering)http://teachengineering.org/view_curricularunit.php?url=http://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cla_/curricular_units/cla_energyunit/cla_energyunit.xml
DeWaters, J.E., and S.E. Powers, "Using a Real-world, Project-based Energy Module to Improve Energy Literacy among High School Youth." In: Proceedings of the 116th Annual ASEE Conference & Exposition, Austin, TX, June 14-17, 2009, paper number AC 2009-231.
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.
Powers, S.E., J.E. DeWaters, “Energy Systems and Solutions,” (an eight-lesson, 8th grade science curriculum), TeachEngineering Digital Library, 2009. (winner of 2009 Premier Curriculum Award for K-12 Engineering)
