For Purdue University senior Jake Hawes, career inspiration comes in the form of contrast. The environmental and ecological engineering major had the opportunity to travel to two locations that couldn’t be more different; Stockholm, Sweden and Las Canas, Dominican Republic. In Stockholm, he noted highly advanced sustainability efforts, systems far ahead of what we have in the U.S. While in the Dominican Republic, a developing nation, it was urgent and fundamental needs commanding attention.

Dr. Roshanak Nateghi, assistant professor in Purdue Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Industrial Engineering, was featured in a recent article in Engineering Impact for her research using mathematical models to determine how to better predict the power grid's reliability within specific locations of the United States.

Environmental profiles for all 92 Indiana counties created as part of the Bicentennial Torch project are now available online. These profiles were developed by a Purdue team of students during the two-year torch project, which included the collaborative efforts of College of Engineering students, staff, and faculty.

The College of Engineering announced the University's Bravo Award winners. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in four categories: moving the University forward, operational excellence, innovation/creativity, and fiscal stewardship. The recipient of the Bravo Award for 2016 is Tammi Thayer, Associate Director of Advising in EEE. Thayer was recognized for her work in assessing students' experiential learning beyond the classroom, and their interactions with faculty.

In July, Dr. Chad Jafvert, professor in Purdue's Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Civil Engineering, traveled to Cartagena with a group of three students in a Global Design Team supported by the Office of Global Engineering Programs. Their goal was to provide the community of San Jose del Playon, in Bolivar, with access to clean water. Prof. Jafvert, along with Dr. John Howarter, assistant professor in Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Materials Engineering at Purdue, have been working on a reliable and inexpensive slow sand (or bio-sand) filter system to improve water quality since 2011. Purdue EEE student Sanyukta Gokhale was also part of the team.

Dr. Ernest (Chip) Blatchley, Purdue Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental and Ecological Engineering, was featured in a recent Chemical & Engineering News article examining the by-products of chemical pool treatments. The article, "What Lies Beneath," highlights the interaction of dirt, sweat, urine, and personal care products with chemicals used to disinfect pool water, and looks at potential health effects.

Purdue University's Environmental and Ecological Engineering program and Tuskegee University partnered to offer Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program, a unique research opportunity for high school STEM teachers.