On October 17, Log Lunch welcomed two of our own students, Jordan Fields ’17 and Anna Epstein ’17, to speak about their summer experiences.
Jordan conducted independent geology research in Bend, Oregon to track water flow in the Deshutes River Watershed. With increasing drought in the Bend area, Jordan sought to study the impact of decreased rain and snowfall on the region. He spent much of his summer climbing Broken Top Mountain to monitor glacial melt in the snowfield and down in the Tumalo Falls Stream to measure stream flow rates. Through his research, he concluded that the region is depending more and more on groundwater stores because of decreased of snowmelt. This reality is troubling for a water-stressed region and demands more research on the nature of groundwater.
Anna worked at the Sierra Club in D.C. shadowing energy policy experts as they lobbied for environmental change on Capital Hill. During the summer, she focused on two main projects: advocating for carbon-polluting power plants to be excluded from the next iteration of the Import-Export Bank and for a renewal of the U.S. Wind Production Tax Credit. For the latter, she met with legislators to try to secure their support for the measure. If the congressmen and congresswomen did not pledge their agreement, the Sierra Club disseminated advertisements publicizing the missed-opportunity for wind-energy job creation to their constituents. After such meetings, Anna would track the legislator’s opinions on the issue. While the Tax Credit has yet recommenced, Anna had the unique experience of participating firsthand in the creation of a more robust U.S. national environmental policy.
Both students received grants from the Center for Environmental Studies to fund their summer endeavors. To learn more, please visit: http://ces.williams.edu/student-opportunities/funding-research/
