Jasmin Melara and Udayan Singh, graduate students, led a science outreach event on Engineering and the Environment at the Red Hill Elementary School, North Garden. The activity was a part of a weekly Engineering Club which has been developed by Carolyna Quiles, student in Biomedical Engineering and Dr. Rider Foley, Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering & Society. The target audience for this program were students of grades 3-5.

The activity introduced the students to basic levels of understanding of climate change and how carbon dioxide emission exacerbates it. A science activity was also planned and delivered which is often dubbed as the “ocean-acidification experiment”. After the activity, the students were informally asked to summarize their understanding about the experiment and the key takeaways. They exhibited awareness about the climate change problem and we hope that the younger generation will play a proactive role in mitigating anthropogenic climate change.

Our new PhD student, Erica Loudermilk, who holds her bachelors degree from the University of Delaware has been honored with two prestigious fellowships at the beginning of her graduate career. She has been as a GAANN Fellow, through a grant sponsored by the US Department of Education. She has also received the UVa Engineering Distinguished Fellowship, which provides $5,000 in the first year and $2,000 for travel opportunities for 5 years. Congratulations, Erica, and we look forward to your successful research work!