Humans are about 60% water, but Caitlin Proctor might be a little more. In environmental engineering, few figures represent their research as well as Professor Caitlin Proctor of Purdue University.

If you went to high school or enrolled in college, chances are you were asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s not always an easy question. According to Glynis Boone, Purdue Environmental and Ecological Engineering (EEE)’s newest External Advisory Council (EAC) member, it might not get easier, but that might not be a bad thing.

EEE Junior Liz Hutzel and proud Purdue Outing Club (POC) leader, is all about protecting, improving, and enjoying our environment.

Water quality is a high priority among EEE’s research pillars. From contaminants to sustainable processing, EEE students and faculty love investigating this precious resource. Which is why it’s no surprise several of our graduate students found their way to the American Water Works Association (AWWA)’s Water Quality Technology Conference (WQTC) in Schaumburg, Illinois last month.

Kanaan is a PhD Candidate in Environmental and Ecological Engineering affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences and Engineering Program at Purdue University. His research interests include urban resilience and livability, particularly on how the effects of social-ecological-technological components of cities manifest themselves in human populations.

On Nov. 20, 2024, EEE students, faculty, and staff gathered for hot chocolate, cookies, and a musical showcase from fellow EEE's! Performers included: Chandra Nath on the flute (Senior Research Scientist), Xiaohan Wu with his violin (Graduate Student), Abigail Fouts with her guitar and beautiful voice (Undergraduate Student), and Cormac Fallon on the trumpet (Undergraduate Student).

On October 1, Holly Haflich captivated Purdue students with her presentation on water treatment and resource recovery using ion exchange membranes. Following her talk, Purdue EEE students had the opportunity to go behind the scenes with Holly, where she shared her journey as an undergrad, master’s student, and now a doctoral candidate.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Purdue’s Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering’s graduate program No. 9 and its undergraduate program No. 12 among the best environmental engineering programs in the nation for 2024, an impressive accomplishment, Purdue officials say, considering how new the program is.

Purdue EEE grad students came home with prizes from the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA) conference last month! Catherinne Mejia Melara won first place in the student poster competition, with Elizabeth Kelley in second! Both Catherinne and Elizabeth are graduate students under professor Heather Liddell.

When you walk into the office of Purdue Environmental and Ecological Engineering (EEE), you will see evidence of their excellent students, compelling research, and inclusive culture. However, there is more that Purdue EEE has to offer the ever-changing and ever-innovating world.