Keenan Norton (he/him)

BS 2026 Chemical Engineering, Additonal Major Environmental and Sustianability Studies, Additional Major in Hispanic Studies

Bio

Keenan Norton joined the ESS Additional Major to maintain a focus on sustainable science and love of planet while completing his Chemical Engineering degree. His discipline has a rocky history with respect to environmental impact, and he did not want to feel like he was compromising his beliefs while getting trained as an Engineer. Ultimately, Norton wants to use these powers for good!

The Politics of Water From a Global Perspective, Dr. Owen's class really helped Norton understand a sociopolitical side to water management and water treatment that is otherwise ignored or overlooked in the sciences. This is what he found to be so strong about the ESS program; students gain strong interdisciplinary skills in fields that are relevant to their work.

Norton created the Defeating Doomism lecture series which was funded by the Steinbrenner Institute. Various professors, community leaders, and professionals presented on their specific fields/research. The goal was to share hope in times of uncertainty when it comes to questions of environment and sustainability. Norton also co-led the student organization Juntos: Creating Ties which performs international civic engagement projects, focusing on sustainable community building in the rural Dominican Republic.

Norton will go into a PhD in Environmental Engineering and focus on water quality and water treatment engineering. He wants to be part of the march towards providing clean and affordable drinking water for all, and this starts with mastering the science behind water treatment.