The full interview with Sheelagh McCarthy
What do you do at Ecology?
I work as a surface water quality scientist and modeler in Ecology’s
Environmental Assessment Modeling & TMDL Unit; I have worked at Ecology
since 2016. My projects include Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) studies and other
water quality improvement projects for polluted surface waters. These projects
involve collecting samples in the field, analyzing data, using computer models
and geographic information systems (GIS) to identify sources of pollution, and
writing the results in a technical report. I also work with a great group of
scientists and engineers as part of the Salish Sea Modeling team. We use the
Salish Sea Model, a powerful, complex modeling tool to simulate hydrodynamic
and water quality processes. Results from this model are used to guide
management decisions to protect water quality in Puget Sound.
Tell us about some of your recent work.
One exciting challenge as a scientist is finding new and
different ways to present and communicate our scientific results. Recently, I
created the Salish Sea Model results web map. This interactive mapping tool shares
Salish Sea Model results that show the impact of excess nutrients on dissolved oxygen levels in Puget Sound. The application provides a visualization of model
outputs and includes a series of engaging features to explore. I also worked
with Teizeen Mohamedali, a female engineer on our Salish Sea Modeling team, to
develop a Nitrogen in Puget Sound Story Map. This story map communicates the
state of the science of nitrogen in Puget Sound through another type of
interactive web map using a compilation of scientific data and research.
Last year, I completed the East Fork Lewis River Temperature & Fecal Coliform Bacteria Source Assessment report. This report is now
being used to inform implementation and restoration work in the watershed. It’s
exciting and fulfilling to know that this scientific report is being used to
help guide pollution clean-up activities so that people, fish, and all other
living creatures can enjoy clean water!
What advice do you have for women who would like to work in a scientific
field?
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions – Science is about critical thinking, so raise your hand in class, read books to learn more about a subject that interests you, and seek out a mentor.
- Try new things – Being a scientist requires a bunch of different skills. Our work tends to be interdisciplinary and having skills in other subjects such as writing, computer programming, or GIS, can be very beneficial.
- Explore – Science is fun! Most scientists in the environmental field are in it because they are inspired by the world around us and are seeking to understand it better.
I love that my job at Ecology allows me to study and protect
the places where I spend my time outside of work.
Growing up, I spent a lot of my time in and around the Great Lakes. As I
learned more about climate change and environmental issues in high school and
college, I decided to pursue a career in the environmental field. I started using
computer models during graduate school and was drawn to this work because of
the role they play in providing scientific support to identify solutions to
improve water quality.
By Ruth Froese, Environmental Assessment Program
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