Caridad Estrada (Environmental Engineering)
This month I had the pleasure of attending the Waste Management Symposia in Phoenix, Arizona (March 6-10, 2022) for the first time, the premier international conference for the management of radioactive material and related topics. I was fortunate enough to win the Roy G. Post foundation scholarship and sponsorship to present my current research in mercury remediation in freshwater aquatic systems for the Department of Energy – Office of Environmental Management. My research at FIU’s Applied Research Center under the mentorship of Dr. John Dickson, works to eradicate the harmful consequences of pollutants such as mercury that were the result of radioactive material developments at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
While attending conferences is nothing new to me, I was pleasantly surprised at the valuable experience and knowledge I gained during this penultimate event for radioactive waste management. My encounter with professionals from all over the United States and from visiting countries enlightened my perspective of the scientific community and elevated my confidence as these industry professionals regarded me as a colleague. I engaged in numerous conversations regarding my research, but many of the sessions at this conference went beyond the scope of laboratory work and into the policies that help shape the progress of waste management. The friendly and charismatic atmosphere allowed me to network with scientists and learn more about the topics I was interested in such as emerging contaminants and modeling applications to support environmental remediation. This amazing opportunity is made possible by the Department of Energy Fellows program, a STEM workforce development program sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management. The program provides me with hands-on research experience, mentorship and the ability to grow as a researcher and young professional.
My favorite aspect of this conference was seeing the Department of Energy in action and the various projects that are ongoing in environmental management. The DOE has created a large network of distinguished professionals, which proved to be beneficial for a young student looking to pursue a radioactive waste management career. On my way home, I gained enthusiasm for new ideas inspired by the sessions at this conference and came back to the Applied Research Center ready to write my graduate school research proposal.
