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Anne Isham
Graduate Program: Ph.D. in Environmental, Earth and Ocean Sciences
Field of Study: Water policy - desalination
Academic Background: B.S., Chemistry-Environmental Sciences, Colby College
I have always been interested in water and have experiences
with both water research and policy development. As an undergraduate,
I majored in Chemistry-Environmental sciences at Colby College, in Waterville,
Maine.
My undergraduate emphasis on water contamination has given me a broad
knowledge of the sources of pollution and their chemical and physical
effects upon the environment. While studying in a small fishing community
in Mexico during my junior year I developed the ability to form balanced
decisions concerning the challenges confronting society today involving
water quality and development of coastal areas. The water quality analysis
project I performed in Mexico identified the major sources of pollution
and the impact these sources have on local wetlands and water quality.
After identifying pollution sources I met with various stakeholders (i.e.,
government, fishermen, the general public) to understand their views on
the issues. I learned the importance of being able to communicate with
the local stakeholders in their native language. After graduating from
Colby with a B.A., I spent two years working for The Cadmus Group an environmental
consulting firm who provided support to the EPA, on implementation of
the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) via various regulations designed to
protect public health. The experience provided me with invaluable insight
into how to write technical water standards and regulations documents.
I then returned to school and obtained a M.S. in Environmental Law from
Vermont Law School (VLS). During my time at VLS I evaluated how (and if)
the SDWA regulations were being implemented and enforced at the state
and local level in Vermont. This experience provided me with the opportunity
to assess the strengths and weakness of the SDWA regulations, and the
ability of states to meet SDWA requirements. After graduating from VLS
I entered the Earth, Environmental and Ocean Sciences (EEOS) Program at
the University of Massachusetts – Boston (UMB) to pursue my doctorate
in Environmental Sciences. My research focus is on water policy, specifically
desalination and wastewater reuse. While at UMB I am also working for
the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management to develop a desalination policy
for the state. Although I am no longer in a laboratory or in the field
doing research, I still use my knowledge of chemistry to better understand
the science that is used to develop policy.
Currently I am monitoring water quality in a small portion of Pine Tree Brook
in Milton, Massachusetts with the assistance of students enrolled in the
Environmental Science classes at Milton High School. Under supervision
students are collecting and analyzing water samples from four sites along
the brook. Parameters that are regularly monitored include: weather, a
ir temp, water temp, pH, DO, TDS, E. coli, total coliform. Our combined
monitoring efforts will continue through the end of the 2004-2005 school year.
I have always been interested in water and have experiences
with both water research and policy development. As an undergraduate,
I majored in Chemistry-Environmental sciences at Colby College, in Waterville,
Maine.
My research interests are in potable water supply with an emphasis on seawater and brackish water desalination.