Highlighting University Standout: Hadley Menk's Achievements at Scripps College
In the heart of San Diego, California, Hadley Menk, a graduate student at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), is making a significant impact in addressing one of the nation's worst environmental disasters - the Tijuana River wastewater pollution crisis.
Menk, a native of Charlotte, Vermont, and a former environmental consultant, is now part of a larger body of research going on at Scripps Oceanography, San Diego State University, and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her work is focused on utilizing satellite remote sensing data and spectrometers to monitor water quality and pollution dispersal in the affected coastal and estuarine environments.
A typical day at Scripps for Menk involves classes, research project work or planning, and catching up with classmates over coffee. Despite working part-time while attending school, she faces challenges at times, but the support of her mentors, including Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux, Caitlin Crossett, Ian Lawson, Dan Sousa, Sarah Giddings, and Sarah Easterby-Smith, has been instrumental in her project.
Menk's research is particularly relevant as it offers a potentially quick and low-cost way to detect water pollution, not just in the Tijuana case but in other parts of the world. The crisis stems from complex cross-border issues, including years of underfunding and lack of infrastructure improvements in both countries. Efforts to fix the problem have been slow, with temporary improvements in sewage treatment compliance noted only recently, but ongoing pollution and health impacts persist.
The pollution has caused severe environmental, public health, and economic issues, leading to long-term beach closures in Imperial Beach and Coronado and contributing to waterborne and airborne diseases in local communities. It disproportionately affects South County San Diego neighborhoods.
Menk's career aspirations include a combination of research and policy work. Post-Scripps, she hopes to continue working on issues related to the intersection of water and climate change.
Scripps Oceanography, where Menk conducts her research, is one of the world's most important centers for global earth science research and education. The institution offers unparalleled education and training for the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders. It operates a fleet of four oceanographic research vessels and is home to Birch Aquarium at Scripps, a public exploration center that welcomes 500,000 visitors each year.
Menk can be found on Instagram @climatesciencegirl and on LinkedIn. Her work is exciting because it has a very clear connection to public health, marine life health, and the way people experience the environment.
References:
[1] San Diego Union-Tribune. (2021, March 25). Tijuana sewage crisis: A look at the timeline of pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. Retrieved from https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/story/2021-03-25/tijuana-sewage-crisis-a-look-at-the-timeline-of-pollution-in-the-tijuana-river-valley
[2] National Geographic. (2021, April 12). How satellites are helping to clean up sewage pollution in California. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/how-satellites-are-helping-to-clean-up-sewage-pollution-in-california
[3] San Diego County. (n.d.). Tijuana River Valley Recovery Project. Retrieved from https://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/content/sdc/parks/trv/trv_recovery_project.html
[4] California Coastkeeper Alliance. (2021, March 12). Tijuana River sewage crisis: The basics. Retrieved from https://www.coastkeeper.org/issues/tijuana-river-sewage-crisis-the-basics
- Hadley Menk's climate science research at Scripps Oceanography, a global center for environmental and oceanographic research, focuses on utilizing satellite data for monitoring water quality and pollution dispersal, contributing to the solution of the Tijuana River wastewater pollution crisis.
- Menk's work in educational and self-development platforms, such as her Instagram account @climatesciencegirl, provides insights into how satellite remote sensing can help detect water pollution not just in the Tijuana case, but in other parts of the world, thereby contributing to environmental-science learning.
- Post-Scripps, Menk aspires for a career that combines environmental research and policy work, continuing to address issues related to water and climate-change, with potential implications for climate-science education and the overall health of marine life and human communities.
