Environmental Studies seniors awarded top prizes at annual statewide environmental conference

Two seniors majoring in Environmental Studies were awarded top prizes at the Maryland Water Monitoring Council’s Annual Conference held Nov. 17 at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights, Maryland​.

The students were selected to present their senior capstone research at the Maryland Water Monitoring Council’s 29th annual conference, “Stepping Up Our Efforts – Now is the Time,” which was organized with the Maryland Stream Restoration Association.

Garrett Tucker of Keymar, Maryland, won first place for his research poster, “Filtering Solutions: Sand Filters vs. Wet Ponds in Stormwater Management.” Tucker conducted his research in collaboration with the Bureau of Resource Management in Carroll County, Maryland, and looked at the effectiveness of wet ponds and underground sand filtration techniques, two stormwater best management practices (BMPs) used in Carroll County.

Olivia Sunde, who is also a double major in Biology, presented “Microplastics in the Patapsco River,” earning second place for her research poster. In collaboration with the Environmental Studies and Chemistry departments at McDaniel, Sunde of Reisterstown, Maryland, collected samples to identify the amount of microplastics entering the upper part of the Patapsco River in Maryland that feeds into Liberty Reservoir. Her results suggested that some of the microplastics are entering the Patapsco River through surface runoff and that the Liberty Reservoir may act as a sink for some microplastics.

Elly Engle, assistant professor of Environmental Studies, says, “Our students ask crucial research questions as part of their capstone process and we’re proud of these two students who went above and beyond to share their findings with the broader research and practice communities. That’s how environmental change truly happens – engaging in conversation with others.”

Founded in 1994, the Maryland Water Monitoring Council serves as a statewide collaborative body aligned under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources that strives to improve communication within the Maryland water monitoring and management community.

The conference included plenary sessions, concurrent breakout sessions, poster presentations, and exhibitor tables focused on water quality issues and monitoring efforts.