Jaeyoung Jang ’04 Helps Effort to Identify Effects of Pollution in Bushkill Creek Watershed

An EXCEL Scholar is spending part of his summer evaluating the effects of pollution on the rapidly changing Bushkill Creek watershed.

Jaeyoung Jang ’04 (Cochabamba, Bolivia) is contributing to research on the effect of non-point source pollution on water quality and biodiversity in the watershed. He is assisting Arthur Kney, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering.

Jang, who is majoring in civil and environmental engineering with a minor in art, is conducting field work as well as background research.

“I take water samples from different locations along Bushkill Creek and then analyze the results in the lab,” he says.

According to Kney, the goal of the project is to characterize how storm water flow and runoff affects the water quality of the stream.

“Jaeyoung has been looking at a number of different sites along the Bushkill, including residential areas, parking lots from the Palmer Park Mall, and also a drain pipe along Route 22. He’s been working hard and is taking on a lot of responsibility,” says Kney. “Based on the data collected, we can assess economical treatment processes to better eliminate the shock effect of various toxic chemicals introduced into Bushkill Creek with each storm.”

Jang is pleased to contribute to efforts to better manage Bushkill Creek. In addition to helping the environment, he has also broadened his research skills.

“I was interested in doing this program, and I’m pleased with what I’ve learned,” he says. “EXCEL is a different type of learning. You need to be self-sufficient and responsible for your work.”

He adds, “It would be hard to find an experience like EXCEL in other schools. I’ve really learned a lot.”

Jang is a member of the International Students Association, the Asian Students Association, and the Volleyball Club. He has also been named to the Dean’s List.