"You never know when, where, or from whom you may learn your most valuable lessons."
Sean Mercer
- Degree:
- Master of Engineering Leadership
- Grad year: 2021
- Program:
- Campus: Vancouver
Before coming to UBC, I travelled across North America commissioning and starting-up equipment at various water and wastewater treatment facilities. Wanting to learn more about municipal wastewater treatment and the associated pieces of managing this critical puzzle, I completed my degree and transitioned to the next step in my journey.
I now monitor flows and levels within sewers across the region, supporting infrastructure upgrades and growing our knowledge through data-driven means.
In my spare time I run, hike, and cross-country ski across the surrounding landscape which I’m thrilled to call home.
What has made your time at UBC memorable?
I really enjoyed how my courses tied together the technical aspects of water and waste treatment with the social aspects of applying good practices that are equitable and sustainable. Courses like Water and Wastewater Management Strategies and Sustainable Water Systems reminded me how the human aspects of decisions are just as important, if not more so, than the financial or technical ones.
What are your future plans to make a difference in our world?
I’m a big supporter of limiting waste and reusing resources wherever possible. In my current role, I help gather and analyze data about how sewers are used, how much water they transport, and how we can make improvements to protect the environment and health of the public.
I aim to continue learning about the wastewater field to aid municipalities in gaining all they can from the waste products they manage, while protecting the environment so that generations to come can experience all the beauty our planet has to offer.