Dear ENST Students,
I’m excited to share a new opportunity for students interested in water quality, stormwater management, environmental technology, algae, sustainability, and applied environmental research.
ENST's Dr. Peter May is beginning a collaborative project with Prince George’s County Parks focused on the use of algal turf scrubbers (ATS) for stormwater management and nutrient removal. There are opportunities to get involved through an ENST472 Capstone project, volunteer experience, or research credit (ENST489). There are also opportunities for a club or student led organization to get involved.
What is the project?
The project has two exciting components:
1. Scale-up feasibility study at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park
Students will work with Prince George’s County Parks on a feasibility study and preliminary design for a 1-acre algal turf scrubber system at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. This will involve exploring how an ATS system could be designed and implemented at a much larger scale, including considerations related to site conditions, water flow, system design, operation, and environmental benefits.
2. Start-up of the new “Terp” Algal Turf Scrubber
We also have a newly completed algal turf scrubber at the stormwater pond near the Terrapin Trail Garage here at UMD. Students will have the opportunity to help get the system up and running, monitor its performance, collect field data, and learn about the operation and maintenance of an actual ATS system.
This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a real-world environmental technology project while working with university researchers and a local government partner.
If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to me and Dr. May. I’d be happy to discuss the different options and what might be a good fit for you.
-Eni Baballari ebaballa@umd.edu
SIE Coordinator