ChE’s Graduate Student Timothy Onuh Learns How to Advocate for Engineering Research Policy “on the Hill”
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Ph.D. student Timothy Onuh of the Chemical Engineering (ChE) Department recently attended the Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop, held from April 14th to 17th in Washington, D.C., with three other graduate students from UMass Amherst. The four-day workshop, hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), introduced participants to the federal policymaking process and suggested strategies for how to communicate research to policymakers much more effectively. See Inside UMass story.
According to the AAAS website, “The CASE workshop is an exciting opportunity to learn from science-policy and -advocacy experts about the role of science in policymaking and the federal policymaking process. It empowers participants with ways to become [voices] for research throughout their careers.”
As Onuh says about how much he appreciated the workshop’s emphasis on effective communication strategies for scientists, “The training sessions taught me how to clearly articulate the importance and real-world applications of my research to non-technical audiences. I now feel much more confident in my ability to convey the significance of investing in clean-water infrastructure and sustainable-treatment technologies.”
Onuh recalls that his passion for environmental causes began while he earned his Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria.
As Onuh explains, “This interest in sustainable energy, climate-change mitigation, and environmental preservation was the theme of my scholarly pursuits and research endeavors, earning me the 'Best Undergraduate Thesis' award in recognition of my work with biofuels. I also received several prestigious scholarships, as well as recognition from the government of my home state and a scholarship from the U.S. embassy in Nigeria (Educational USA) to pursue a Ph.D. in the U.S.”
Onuh’s passion for green science only increased after his undergraduate years. As he says, “My dedication to sustainability continued beyond graduation when I worked as a safety and environmental engineer at a petrochemical consulting company. There, I collaborated via outreach and educational programs with local, oil-rich, riverine communities to advocate for environmental policies that would promote environmental sustainability.”
According to Onuh, “I've had the privilege of being a National Institute of Health Biotechnology Training Fellow. My current focus lies within the field of civil and environmental engineering, where I work closely with [CEE] Professor Caitlyn Butler to advance biofilm wastewater-treatment technologies, particularly in the context of addressing challenging emerging contaminants and their effective removal from waste streams.”
As Onuh says about his ChE dissertation in progress, “I aim to develop advanced models to improve our understanding of biofilm-based, wastewater-treatment systems, thereby contributing to more effective water-treatment strategies that address the removal of emerging contaminants like nanoparticles from waste streams.”
Onuh concludes that “My journey reflects a lifelong commitment to a greener, more sustainable planet.”
Participation in the 2024 CASE Workshop was sponsored by the UMass Amherst Graduate School, College of Engineering, and College of Natural Sciences. Since 2014, the campus Office of Professional Development has helped 24 UMass Amherst graduate students attend the CASE workshop and subsequent meetings “on the Hill.” (May 2024)