Payton Ohler, a student at Vanderbilt University studying Civil Engineering and Climate Studies, recently completed her summer internship working with Sherilyn Williams-Stroud at the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), a division of the Prairie Research Institute. As a participant in the Graduate College’s Summer Research Opportunities Program, she focused on the social and technological implications of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects. In this Q&A, Payton discusses how her experiences have deepened her commitment to integrating social justice into engineering, particularly in addressing climate change impacts on marginalized communities.
Q: What sparked your interest in your field?
A: Climate disasters like Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri had a significant impact on my Houston neighborhood and opened my eyes to the detrimental effects of climate change on communities. My awareness of my community’s climate disparity, combined with my passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and problem-solving, drives my goal of using risk and resilience engineering to reduce the impact of climate change on frontline communities.
Q: Briefly describe what you are doing during your internship?
A: This summer, I worked with the ISGS to quantify how different groups have been impacted by Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) implementation. Specifically, Heidelberg Materials in Mitchell, Indiana, is assessing the feasibility of adding a CCS feature to their cement plant, considering both technological and social implications. I conducted a characterization of the community in Mitchell, Indiana, and reviewed literature on previously studied CCS social implications. I then organized themes and concepts to predict how groups within the community would be affected and to establish a community engagement plan. The main strategy for quantifying opposition involved inductive coding of past public hearings in Wabash County and query analysis of the codes we used, which ranged from environmental concerns to company trust and communication problems.
Q: What are you learning during the internship? Has anything surprised you or shifted your thinking?
A: In addition to learning the coding software NVivo, which enables social scientists to code data, this summer gave me a deeper appreciation for how technology and engineering affect actual communities, homeowners, and families. It is crucial that marginalized communities are prioritized during climate change solution design, as procedural justice is often ignored and downplayed by corporations. I am confident that engineering firms can do better. I was also able to broaden my horizons beyond typical engineering coursework by working with incredible Environmental Justice researchers and professors.
Q: What was the best part of your internship experience?
A: The best part was visiting the CCS education center and wellhead in Decatur, Illinois. This allowed me to better understand the feasibility of CCS projects in communities through a successful implementation in Decatur, as well as comprehend the actual mechanics behind CCS technology by talking to experts and exploring the physical wellhead.
Q: How do you think your internship might affect your studies or your career path?
A: This internship solidified my intention to prioritize the integration of social justice with engineering throughout my Civil Engineering career. This summer, I noticed that a significant concern of the public across CCS implementation projects was the lack of procedural justice from companies. I recognize this as a gap I can address as I enter the Civil Engineering field. This internship has provided me with valuable skills in addressing that gap and understanding how to better incorporate the public into engineering projects.
Q: What do you plan to do after your internship is over?
A: This semester, I am looking forward to continuing my studies in civil engineering, participating in Vanderbilt's Climate Accelerator program, and broadening my knowledge of environmental justice issues. I am excited to bring my ISGS internship knowledge on Environmental Justice into an engineering internship next summer.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A: I am so thankful to ISGS for having me this summer!