August 8, 2024

Washington Sea Grant (WSG) is excited to introduce four interns working with host businesses this summer through the Washington Applied Sustainability Internship (WASI) program. Administered by WSG in tandem with the Washington Department of Ecology, the WASI program links undergraduate students in engineering, chemistry, sustainability and environmental sciences with Washington businesses to analyze, recommend, and even implement process changes that prevent pollution and benefit Washington’s waterways and natural resources.

The solutions interns explore can range from finding and using safer chemical alternatives in a manufacturing process to reducing outflows of hazards and solid wastes, and can provide benefits from reducing pollution to increasing efficiency, saving costs, and improving employee health and safety. While working for a host business, each intern also has access to technical advisors at the Department of Ecology, who answer questions and provide mentorship.

This year’s WASI program features four host businesses from a range of Washington industries. Interns this year are:

• Helping the LOTT Clean Water Alliance evaluate products and chemicals used at the wastewater treatment plant for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon footprint (CO2 equivalence – CO2e). 
• Working with Taylor Farms Northwest to identify and implement methods of reducing water use throughout their food processing facility. Taylor Farms is also interested in identifying and implementing greener alternatives for landfill-bound produce waste. 
• Helping Toray Composite Materials America optimize solvent recovery processes and research safer alternatives for solvent-based cleaning processes.
• Working with Valence Surface Technologies to determine optimal operating parameters for process tanks. You’ll minimize wastewater and hazardous waste generation, verify and implement process changes, and update the current Operations Manual to reflect the optimized process.

See full project descriptions here.

WSG is thrilled to have these four interns and excited to see what they accomplish this summer. Learn more about this year’s WASI interns below!

 

BELLA AGUIRRE

Bella was born in California, but has lived a little over half her life in Washington. With her love of being hands on, puzzles, and the multitude of solutions to one problem, Bella got an associates of science in engineering and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering at the University of Washington. Her academics has been guided by a goal to enter a career centered around clean energy and sustainability. During Bella’s time in living in Washington, she has fallen in love with the state’s majestic mountains and forests, serene lakes and coastline, and multi-seasonal sceneries. Inspired by a diversity class that shed light on the connections of societies and oceans, Bella felt compelled to actively contribute to preserving Washington’s nature. As a WASI intern at Valence Surface Technologies, she is eager to make an impact on environmental sustainability within the aerospace industry. Bella is excited about gaining practical insights into navigating the complexities of environmental compliance and initiatives. She sees her internship as a stepping stone towards a future where she can continue to drive positive change in environmental conservation.

 

ZAINAB AHMAD

Growing up in the diverse terrain of Washington state, Zainab often found herself looking towards its ecosystems to reflect on the dynamics of balance and disruption. She began working in emergency and holistic medical settings, exploring how healing can draw from contemporary and indigenous sciences of the natural world. During her clinical work in rural communities of Washington, Utah, and Nevada she witnessed immediate and chronic health impacts from wildfires, contaminated water, and food deserts. This motivated her to think about the ways science can shape community partnerships and policy that protect body and place.

Zainab received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Seattle University, and engaged in various projects involving forest restoration, agroecology, microbiome research, wastewater treatment, and sustainable urban development. Exposure to the resource-intensive networks in clinics and labs helped guide her interests in green chemistry to consider how material production and use can employ less polluting and demanding processes. As a WSG applied sustainability intern, she will collaborate with LOTT Clean Water Alliance to track and reduce their scope 3 emissions and toxic chemical use. Being a part of a program that supports companies on their paths towards improved resource stewardship, she is inspired to learn more about what practical sustainability in industry can look like.

 

CASERA PINTO

Casera (she/they) is an environmental engineering graduating senior from the University of Washington in Seattle. Growing up in California, they witnessed the impacts of heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires, igniting their passion for sustainability and climate change mitigation early on. She is driven by the vision to create an equitable symbiotic relationship between human infrastructure and the natural world, which is an aspect she has emphasized and explored throughout her time in the UW Civil and Environmental Engineering department. Since moving to Washington and studying at UW, Casera has spent extensive time studying diverse climate solutions and environmental justice. Her time as an undergraduate student was enriched by a transformative quarter abroad in India, where she delved into addressing accessibility issues in healthcare, an experience that profoundly shaped her personal and professional trajectory. Outside of their studies, Casera enjoys climbing, hiking, and watching movies with friends. Through the WASI program, she hopes to learn more about sustainable practices and gain the skills needed to tackle environmental challenges in the real world.

 

REIDEN EMERY

Reiden grew up in Edmonds, Washington and is working towards her undergraduate degree out-of-state in biochemistry as a third year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Their parents had always been involved in the scientific fields and paired with their passion for nature and preservation sparked by a Studio Ghibli movie, they began looking into green chemistry. Moving far away from home and gaining freedom, experience, and independence operating in an entirely new environment, she chose to pursue the more environmental aspects of her chosen field. She conducted research in Cal Poly’s laboratories, focusing on photochemistry, and is eager to gain more experience working in laboratories and sharing research. Outside of pursuing her degree, they have been swimming, knitting, and experimenting with different cooking and baking recipes. As a WASI Grant intern, they hope to learn more about the industry, continue to diversify their skillset, and collaborate with Toray Composite Materials America, Inc. to develop their solvent recovery system.

 

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Washington Sea Grant, based at the University of Washington, helps people and marine life thrive through research, technical expertise and education supporting the responsible use and conservation of coastal ecosystems. The National Sea Grant College Program is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

www.wsg.uw.edu.

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