Freddy Liu '14, Bachelor of Science, Water Sciences
When I first started in the new Water Sciences program at Trent University in my second year (2015), I had no idea it was going to propel me into my career as a water professional. As a student who was new to environmental science, I was quite concerned if I was going to enjoy the program or even get a job in the field. However, through the courses in the WASC program, I started to formulate my own interests and curiosity relating to water. My third year at Trent was the most memorable as I took on more specific courses such as limnology, water resources, climate change: the physical basis, wetland ecology, microbiology and more. Particularly, courses such as limnology and water resources sparked my interest in freshwater systems and solidified my passion in water.
Motivated to learn more about water, I joined Dr. Catherine Eimers’ (Professor and WASC program coordinator) lab to assist with research for the summer after my third year. This opportunity was my first look into water quality research, and I was able to help with a few graduate projects as a research assistant. This position further strengthened my knowledge in water quality and led me to complete an undergraduate honours thesis in my fourth year with Dr. Eimers. I had the opportunity to present this research at the 2018 International Association of Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) at the University of Toronto, where I was rewarded with the 2018 IAGLR Best Student Poster Award. Upon completion of my WASC degree, I was part of the first graduating class from the program in 2018. I decided to continue my research efforts with Dr. Eimers and enrolled in the Environmental and Life Sciences graduate program at Trent.
For my Master of Science (MSc) research, I examined the effects of intensive agriculture and tile drainage on nutrient loading in south-central Ontario. My research project integrated technology such as automatic water samplers and water level loggers that enabled intensive data collection for over a year. In the last year of my masters program, my team and I were approached by the forensics department to conduct wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 monitoring in the Peterborough region. With our knowledge of automatic water samplers and experience in field work, we were able to build a robust sampling network from the ground up in the Peterborough region. The data collected from our efforts was used in research, by local health authorities, and the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Park to assess trends in COVID-19 and provide early outbreak warnings to vulnerable areas such as student residences and retirement homes.
After successfully defending my MSc thesis and graduating from Trent in July 2021, I continued to monitor wastewater while finishing a publication and applying to full time jobs. I first started working at a non-profit organization called Water Rangers as their Ontario Water Quality Coordinator. After 6 months, I transitioned into my current job at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as a hydrometrics technologist. In this role, I conduct water flow monitoring and maintain a large network of water monitoring equipment for flood prevention in waterways spanned across the Toronto region.
My accomplishments and experience started at Trent and the TSE. Without the flexibility or multi-disciplinary approach to my education and a nurturing environment created by faculty, I would have never been able to find my passion in water and be where I am today. With smaller class sizes, I felt more comfortable to reach out directly to my instructors about course work and network with professors. Despite my own uncertainties at the beginning, Trent encouraged me to take on challenges, apply my knowledge, and not to be afraid to fail! To conclude, Dr. Eimers and the TSE paved the way for my career in water, and I will continue to use the experience I gained from my education to contribute to the management of this precious resource.