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Department Events

Events

Apr
9
EES Seminar: Carla Ng
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering
2:00 PM
EVENT DETAILS
How Can Environmental Engineering Help Tackle the PFAS Problem? Developing Model and Policy Frameworks for Wicked Pollution Problems
Per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of chemicals used in a dizzying array of applications. Based on national biomonitoring studies, the CDC estimates that nearly all (97%) of the population of the United States has some PFAS in their blood. Growing public concern over this ubiquitous exposure, given the recognition that some PFAS are bioaccumulative and toxic, have prompted ongoing and diverse policy responses at state, federal, and international levels. Yet the development of sound policy and decisions around whether and how PFAS should be used are complicated by lack of data on most PFAS. There remain practical difficulties around a substance-by-substance approach to evaluating these chemicals, particularly given their unique properties, structural diversity, and divergent behavior in environmental and biological systems. In this talk, I will highlight several initiatives in my research group and collaborative work to tackle the PFAS problem from different perspectives: using computational models to understand their behavior at the molecular level, using animal models to predict their bioaccumulation potential and toxic effects, and finally developing policy frameworks in collaboration with a team of international academic and regulatory scientists and policy analysts to develop scientifically-sound strategies to eliminate hazardous PFAS from products and processes.
Dr. Carla Ng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, with a secondary appointment in Environmental and Occupational Health in the Graduate School of Public Health. She received her PhD in Chemical & Biological Engineering from Northwestern University in 2008. The research in Dr. Ng’s group focuses on the development of models for the fate of chemicals in organisms and ecosystems, at the intersection of chemistry, biology and engineering. She has a particular focus on the development of mechanistic toxicokinetic models of PFAS in organisms and using protein-PFAS interactions to understand and predict their impacts across different PFAS structures and species of interest. She was recently awarded an NSF CAREER award to support her ongoing work on PFAS with particular application to molecular modeling and drinking water treatment. Other areas of research include tracking the evolution of complex chemical mixtures in the environment and exploring the role of the industrial food system on the fate of contaminants, with implications for human exposure.
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TIME Friday, April 9, 2021 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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CONTACT Tierney Acott    tierney.acott@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sep
8
Welcome & Breakfast for New McCormick PhD Students
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
9:00 AM LR2 & Tech East Plaza, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
Enjoy a welcome from Dean Christopher A. Schuh and other McCormick leaders, and receive a Northwestern Engineering T-shirt. A free light breakfast on the Tech East Plaza will follow.
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TIME Monday, September 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
LOCATION LR2 & Tech East Plaza, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andi Joppie    andi.joppie@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Sep
10
CEE Department BBQ
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
4:00 PM Dawes House
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
LOCATION Dawes House   
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Sep
12
New Undergraduate Fall 2025 Registration
University Academic Calendar
All Day
EVENT DETAILS
New Undergraduate Fall 2025 Registration
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TIME Friday, September 12, 2025
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CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR University Academic Calendar
Sep
12
New Graduate Student Orientation
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
9:00 AM M345, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Friday, September 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
LOCATION M345, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Sep
15
Welcome & Luncheon for New Full-time Graduate Students
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
11:00 AM Ryan Auditorium & Tech East Plaza, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
Enjoy a welcome from Dean Christopher A. Schuh and other McCormick leaders, and receive a Northwestern Engineering T-shirt. A free lunch on the Tech East Plaza will follow.
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TIME Monday, September 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
LOCATION Ryan Auditorium & Tech East Plaza, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andi Joppie    andi.joppie@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Sep
16
Fall Classes Begin. Change of Registration (Drop/Add) Late registration for returning students begins
University Academic Calendar
All Day
EVENT DETAILS
Fall Classes Begin. Change of Registration (Drop/Add) Late registration for returning students begins
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TIME Tuesday, September 16, 2025
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CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR University Academic Calendar
Sep
24
SPREE Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Sep
26
EES Seminar- Levia Straka
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Friday, September 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Sep
29
AED-MPM Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Monday, September 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
1
SPREE Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
3
EES Seminar- Hee-Deung Park
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Friday, October 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
6
AED-MPM Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
8
SPREE Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
10
EES Seminar- Benjamin Barrios Cerda
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Friday, October 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
11
CEE Career Fair
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
9:00 AM Louis Room, Norris University Center
EVENT DETAILS
Civil and Environmental Engineering Career Fair.
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TIME Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION Louis Room, Norris University Center    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
13
AED-MPM Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Monday, October 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
15
SPREE Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
17
Jimmy Quon Lecture: Valorizing Gas Streams Containing CO2 and CO- Bruce Rittman
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important greenhouse gas, and carbon monoxide (CO) is acutely toxic. Release of these gases must be halted. One promising approach is microbiological valorization of CO2 and CO in off-gas streams. Valorization means converting the CO2 or CO to valuable organic compounds that are feedstock for the chemical and energy industries. This talk describes two distinctly different examples of valorization. The first example is valorizing the CO2 in digester biogas using photosynthetic microalgae. The benefits are to generate more methane (CH4) while converting the biogas (~65% CH4) to higher-value biomethane (>97% CH4). The second example is conversion of syngas (a mixture of CO, CO2, and hydrogen (H2)) to organic acids and alcohols using CO-fermenting and chain-elongating bacteria.
Bio: Dr. Bruce E. Rittmann is Regents Professor of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology at Arizona State University. His research focuses on the science and engineering needed to “manage microbial communities to provide services to society.” Services include generating renewable energy, cleaning water and soil, and improving human health. Dr. Rittmann is a member of the National Academy of Engineering; a Fellow of AAAS, WEF, IWA, AEESP, and NAI; and a Distinguished Member of ASCE. Dr. Rittmann was awarded the first Clarke Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Water Science and Technology from the NWRI, the Walter Huber Research Prize and the Simon Freese Award from ASCE, the G.M. Fair Award from AAEES, the Perry L. McCarty/AEESP Founders Award, and the Camp Applied Research Award from WEF. He is the co-winner of the 2018 Stockholm Water Prize. Dr. Rittmann has published over 880 journal articles, books, and book chapters, and he has 25 patents. With Dr. Perry McCarty, Dr. Rittmann co-authored the textbook Environmental Biotechnology: Principles and Applications (McGraw-Hill Book Co.), which is now out in its second edition.
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TIME Friday, October 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
20
AED-MPM Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Monday, October 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
22
SPREE Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
24
EES Seminar- Adductomics: A New Tool in the Exposomics Toolbox- Bill Funk
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Friday, October 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Oct
27
AED-MPM Seminar
McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute
EVENT DETAILS
TBA
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TIME Monday, October 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it
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CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
 
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