Environmental Engineering

by: Noemi Melo

In this blog post I will explain what is an environmental engineer, what they do, and the type of education that you need to become one as well as talk about two important people in the field of environmental engineering.

Environmental engineering is the branch of engineering that protects people from the effects of adverse environmental effects, such as pollution, as well as improving environmental quality. These engineers use the principles of engineering, soil sciences, biology, and chemistry to develop solution to environmental problems.

            Environmental engineers work to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution. With the growth of cities and the development of large scale farming and manufacturing, people have had to worry about the air quality and soil contamination.

            The work environment of an environmental engineer varies because of the nature of tasks that they do. When these engineers are working with other engineers and urban and regional planners, they are likely to be in offices. When they are carrying out solutions for construction projects, they are likely to be at construction sites.

            In order to become an environmental engineer you must have bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering.

            It is said that the first environmental engineer was Joseph Bazalgette. In an article of the Postgraduate Medical Journal, Bazalgette oversaw the construction of the first municipal sanitary sewer system in London in the mid- 19^th century. In this time, they were cholera epidemics, as well as a persistent unbearable stench, that was caused by the discharge of raw sewage into the Thames River, which was also the main source of drinking water in the city. This lead to the Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli to ask for 3.5 million pounds to improve the city’s sewage disposal system.

            Another notable name in the field of environmental engineering is Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richard, she was a 19^th century pioneer who was an industrial and environmental chemist. She was the first woman admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later, an instructor in sanitary chemistry there. She worked with many local and national groups dealing with water supplies and public health problems.