Holly R
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Yale University
Expertise
Water treatment, nanotechnology, environmental justice, environmental engineering, green chemistry, green engineering, environmental policy, sustainable materials
Bio
Hi! My name is Holly, and my research focus is on designing sustainable materials for effective point-of-use drinking water treatment. Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right, and we need to make sure that the materials that we use to ensure this right are environmentally sustainable and economically accessible. My doctoral research focused on synthesizing nanomaterials and biopolymers and using fundamental chemical principles to try and optimize their effectiveness. My research also focused on the intersection between green chemistry and environmental justice, and how many scientific and social systems interact. I am currently a science policy fellow in California where I get to put my research into practice by analyzing environmental policy at the state level. Beyond the lab, I am an avid swimmer (both in the pool and open water!). Last summer, I won first place in an open water 5k swim in Lake Tahoe, CA. I also love to read; I just finished the Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin and absolutely loved it! I have a cat named Periwinkle, who has been by my side for the past ten years.Project ideas
When is waste not wasted
In this project, we will learn about the key principles of the circular economy by investigating past examples of when "waste" materials were given a second life in a new application. We will then investigate current research into these "waste" materials and brainstorm ideas for their future use.
Just Chemistry
In this project, we will explore specific examples of how the goals of green chemistry and environmental justice interact to try and improve the health of communities and the environment. We will investigate the challenges and opportunities that chemists and engineers have faced/will face in developing more sustainable practices, and what types of environmental justice considerations must be taken into account. This project will draw from science and social science literature to produce an interdisciplinary final paper.