Blossom Nwedo '20, PhD Civil and Environmental Engineering
Country: Oguta, Nigeria
We have only one world to live in and we must take care of it. In my home country, the issue of environmental pollution – mostly from oil and gas activities – is prevalent. Being able to help curb these environmental issues is very important to me. My goal is to help improve public and environmental health by ensuring that people have access to clean and safe water. I also want to promote environmental sustainability. I chose to attend Clarkson because it will help me to achieve my goals. Clarkson is known to be an outstanding university for research, and it's recognized as one of the best engineering schools in the nation, especially the environmental engineering program. I'm right where I want to be.
Studying here, I feel that I have already become a better student and researcher. Clarkson has taught me that I can achieve anything and that nothing that I set my mind to do is impossible.
When I graduate, I want to be a researcher. I love living in the lab (laugh). Yes, I will use the word “living” not “working,” because I spend practically all of my time there! And it's well worth it, because it's truly an amazing feeling to know that I might provide a solution that leads to the betterment of mankind and future generations.
Right now, I'm working with my advisor, Dr. Michelle Crimi, on my research on in situ groundwater remediation, using horizontally drilled, reactive treatment (HRxTM) wells to treat contaminated groundwater. Dr. Crimi and I have also worked on in situ treatment of perfluorinated compounds in groundwater and granular activated carbon (GAC) regeneration. I look forward to doing an internship, probably next summer. I have a feeling it will be a wonderful experience!
I studied for my master's degree in England, but I can't say that I was well-prepared for Clarkson. Upon my arrival, however, I found that Clarkson had helpful resources that made life as a foreign student easy for me here in the North Country. Outstanding and wonderful faculty and staff here have been so much help to me, both academically and socially. Outside of academics, I enjoy being a member of the Garden Club. The people are nice, and it feels good to watch beautiful things grow.