"I would love to help bring access to clean water to communities that don’t have it right now or work on sustainable infrastructure."
Atoussa Farboud
- Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science
- Program:
- Campus: Vancouver
Why did you want to study engineering?
I grew up on a chili pepper farm on Vancouver Island, and I always loved building and creating things. It was actually my math teacher who pointed me to engineering as a career where I could pursue my interests.
How did you choose Environmental Engineering?
I liked that it’s a mix of civil and chemical engineering, so in a sense you are studying two disciplines at once.
My mom worked in government and when I was growing up we often talked about boil water advisories in First Nations communities. That’s what got me interested in water and thinking I could use environmental engineering as a way to make a difference. Meeting professors like Madjid Mohseni and learning about his work was also very inspiring.
Environmental engineering Madjid Mohseni
What are some of the highlights of your UBC experience?
The capstone project was a definite highlight. My group developed a water treatment plan for the Northwest Langley Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion. It was great to work with a team and come up with solutions and ideas, and it gave me a hint of what consulting might look like after graduation.
A cool course in second year focused on learning about site visits.
My group chose the bog in Pacific Spirit Park and we basically had to emulate everything you’d do in a site visit, from determining the contaminants at the site to identifying ways it is affected by pollution.
It was great get out of the classroom and spend time outdoors!
Northwest Langley Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion
Tell us about your design competition success!
In 2023, I participated in the BCWWA student design competition.
My team developed a treatment process to address high sulfate and PFAS levels in the Glenmore landfill leachate.
We won the provincial competition and were then invited to compete at WEFTEC, an international water conference held in Chicago that also includes a student design competition. This is the largest water conference in the world bringing together over 20,000 people who love everything to do with water! It was an incredible experience to be in the midst of so many innovative ideas.
BCWWA student design competition WEFTEC
Do you have any thoughts on the type of impact you’d like to make in your career?
I would love to help bring access to clean water to communities that don’t have it right now or work on sustainable infrastructure.