Jazlyn Acosta, MS

Life on this planet would not exist without the unity of three atoms: two hydrogen, one oxygen. Together, these combine into a single molecule which serves as the foundation and fuel of life and is one of the most precious elements on Earth: water. Since the beginning of civilization and continuing until present day, having access to clean water has been one of the biggest struggles for mankind. Its relevance is made increasingly more apparent every day, with crises such as droughts or emergencies like the events that are taking place in Flint, Michigan, only serving to place a sense of urgency and heightened importance on water resources. If society does not take the necessary steps to ensure the health of our Earth and our water, the health and safety of humans, ecosystems and all life will consequently be threatened. The state of the environment, therefore, is and always has been one of my greatest passions.

Ever since I was little, I have always believed that there needs to be a distinct priority placed on improving the quality of the environment which supports us, otherwise, the day will come in which it will no longer be willing to support us. I have made it my life goal to be able to make a direct and measurable impact on our air and water quality, and my most important step in doing so was pursuing my career in environmental engineering.