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"I
am passionate about science and the humanities!
After getting master’s degrees in both STEM and history
I finally chose the PhD in engineering. This came from a love
of transportation. Looking at the rail network in this country,
we had largely abandoned passenger rail. There's talk now of
revitalizing that effort and that excites me very much, because
when I consider that as a child, we could travel almost anywhere
on rail, that was a wonderful thing. Now we all use our own individual
cars. When I think about sustainability and resource management,
what a tremendous waste to all use individual cars instead of
traveling safely together in a lovely train, as they do in many
countries.I began to do research to look at the intersection
of transportation systems and energy systems because they are
so directly connected. Now, I’m looking at the interconnection
of many critical systems from a disaster recovery perspective.
My
first advice to young people is follow your passion!
Follow the path that excites you... and connect with a mentor.
Find someone who understands not only the challenges of where
you are now, but the challenges of where you hope to go, and
so that you always have someone you trust to give you advice.
I developed a course on energy and sustainability management
systems. Sustainability is not only energy efficiency, but also
long term solutions. Otherwise they are not good solutions. What
I do with my graduate students in the department of engineering
management and systems engineering is to take a look at how all
interdependent systems can be more effective. I enjoy seeing
how the systems are impacted by the people who use them. I have
joined a team that is looking at building a conference around
the topic of energy sustainability. My job is to create a professional
track of speakers from the energy perspective." |