Topic of the Week:
From Wastewater to Wildlife: How Chicago Protects Its Water
Are you ready for an exciting week of adventure, learning, and discovery? Join us for an unforgettable hands-on STEM experience where you’ll explore the vital role of water in our world, learn about the most innovative careers in the water industry, and dive deep into understanding how Chicago manages and protects our water
Program Highlights:
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Explore Water Systems: Understand how water treatment plants, stormwater management, and wastewater systems work.
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Sustainability in Action: Design real-world solutions to address water conservation and pollution, then present your ideas to our industry professionals.
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Career Exploration: Learn about exciting careers in water and engineering—discover how STEM can help protect our planet’s water systems.
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Sailing Adventure: Learn the basics of sailing while using mobile tech to track and test water health on Lake Michigan.
Session 5: July 20- 23 M-Th 9am - 4pm
Meet Your Mentor
Paula Brinkman-Lowe
Senior Environmental Research Technician, MWRD
Paula has worked on and around the Chicago Area Waterways for 24 years. Her first career spanned 15 years as a Conservation Police Officer with the Illinois DNR’s Lake Michigan Unit as a primary Boat Operator. There she was responsible for enforcing boat safety laws, search and rescue, and boat safety education, plus many areas of natural resource protection on and off the water.
For the last 9 years she has worked for MWRD in Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality as an Environment Research Technician (ERT), and then as a Senior ERT. She works with a team to perform much of the hands-on duties involved in monitoring water quality. She performs both lab and field work, including analysis of chlorophyll levels, working with sondes and the data they collect, sediment sampling, and biological monitoring such as electrofishing, the collection of macroinvertebrates and plankton, participating in freshwater mussel surveys, and more. As a Senior ERT she helps to organize and review the work of the four ERTs in her section.
Paula earned her Associate Degree in Science from Truman College, a City College of Chicago, and her BA in University Studies from Southern Illinois University.
Meet Your Mentor
Erica Spiess
Aquatic Biologist, MWRD
Erica is an aquatic biologist at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), with over 12 years of experience in fish and wildlife biology. She holds an Associate of Science, bachelor's degree in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, and a Master of Science. Prior to MWRD, she worked for U.S. Geological Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Forest Preserve District of Will County.
Erica’s experience spans a wide range of ecosystems throughout the United States, from as far east as Pennsylvania to as far west as Alaska, with many regions in between. She has conducted biological surveys on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal species, with much of her work taking place outdoors in remote landscapes and on water. One core focus of her career has involved surveying fish populations and monitoring water quality to better manage and protect natural resources. She now applies her breadth of knowledge to monitoring and research of aquatic ecosystems in a multifaceted urban setting, within one of the most heavily engineered urban waterways, the Chicago Area Waterway System.
