Topic Ideas

I am currently a sophomore in Civil and Environmental Engineering. There are many civil and environmental issues that are happening right here in the United States. Some of the most recent issues seen today in the news are so devastating , such as the incident of hurricane Katrina and the collapsing of the bridge in Minnesota. There are many factors of risk communication that we have to face dealing with these type of issues.

My first issue I would like to explore is the disposal of hazardous wastes. Hazardous waste is wastes that are a hazardous to humans, plants, and animals and needs special precautions to be disposed of. Hazardous wastes need to be disposed of properly otherwise it can get into the air we breathe and contaminate the water we drink. In many incidents we can avoid using hazardous wastes by using alternatives such as organic methods. For example, farmers spraying their crops can harm themselves by breathing in the pesticides and can also harm the environment by going into the ground water. I would like to research any possible alternatives that would cut back on hazardous wastes.

A second issue that I would like to explore is the effects of waste water on the environment. Waste water effects the environment because unwanted sewage finds its way to rivers and streams which can effect the wildlife in that area. In rural communities septic systems septic systems are a concern since they can leak untreated sewage into rivers and streams. Septic systems only last for a period of time until they can eventually fail because they get clogged with organic matter. If the waste water is not treated properly it can make its way to our tap water & cause sickness in humans and animals.

As a sophomore at Pitt in Civil and Environmental Engineering I have learned many concerns that are brought about to engineers on a day to day basis. Throughout the courses I have taken I really enjoyed learning about the ways to help improve the environment. This brings me to my main focus on global warming. I feel that the government needs to educate people who are not aware of global warming and its effects on the environment. It seems that people are only aware of global warming by the melting of glaciers and the earths temperate is increasing, but they do not know that this is bringing along weather related issues. By educating the public about this issue that is taking place we might be able to fight against global warming.