Robyn DeJoan

“The end of this course has been a whirlwind,” DeJoan shared when discussing her biggest takeaways from this experience.

“We’ve been putting out fires before our design gets put in the ground, and I have learned better how to balance patience and emphasize deadlines... I feel better able to handle crisis and pivot as plans that have been in the works for months must change within a day.”

Throughout the course, DeJoan aimed to learn more about the quantitative aspects of green infrastructure and further connect with her local community, aligning at the center of SEE’s integrated perspective that considers both environmental and ecological aspects of engineering and impact.

DeJoan has been working on the McCaw Park team throughout the semester.  

“We call ourselves the Garden Gnomes!” Said DeJoan.

“There are 6 of us, and I have been primarily working on plant selection and installation as the token "native plant expert." 

Selecting the plants has been a highlight of DeJoan’s experience with EEE 47200.

“My favorite part of the course has been choosing the plants for our design! I am a botany nerd and loved coordinating bloom times, heights, and soil condition needs.”

As the course concludes, DeJoan hopes to have a successful project in the long-term, where the installation is simple enough to maintain and the plants establish well enough to flower year after year so that the maximum amount of stormwater can be diverted from the drain system. 

DeJoan elaborated, “I hope our design will add to the beauty of McCaw Park and educate visitors about the importance of green infrastructure.”

Following graduation, DeJoan will start a job as the Green Infrastructure Manager for the City of Lafayette.

“I plan to continue with online classes to eventually get my MS in EEE. I hope to stay in the ecological engineering space throughout my career.”

When asked for her perspective on the value of SEE and sustainability overall, DeJoan spoke about the importance of balance.

“I believe sustainable design is important because we need to balance the growing urban population and the needs of the future. This can only be done by utilizing natural processes in a way that maximizes their impact and efficiency to serve both human needs and protect non-human spaces…I value that SEE strives to create sustainability in every space, whether that be a manufacturing plant, a municipality, or a national park.”

To learn more about the Purdue School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering (SEE), visit: https://engineering.purdue.edu/SEE