Local Engineer Named New Face of Civil Engineering
UC-Davis Researcher Receives Honor from National Civil Engineering Society
Reston, Va.—Inspired by problems in her native Thailand, Dr. Joy Sirikanchana is making a difference in her adopted home as well. In recognition of her accomplishments, this 29-year-old postdoctoral researcher at University of California-Davis’ department of civil and environmental engineering in Davis, Calif., was recently named a New Face of Civil Engineering by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). An integral part of ASCE’s 2009 National Engineers’ Week (Feb. 15-21), the program promotes the achievements of young civil engineers by highlighting their contributions and impact on society.
Sirikanchana experienced unpleasant water and air quality growing up in her homeland. After graduating first in her class with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Chulalongkorn University, the most prestigious engineering college in Thailand, she subsequently worked to improve the water supply and solid waste issues within many of the country’s cities.
Currently, working with a research team at the University of California-Davis, Sirkanchana is developing a better monitoring method for identifying sources of fecal pollution in recreational coastal and estuarine water. With an increasing number of polluted beaches being closed, this method will protect California residents and tourists along the coastal area from waterborne diseases.
Sirikanchana earned her master’s in civil engineering and her doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
ASCE’s top five New Faces of Civil Engineering were also submitted to the national New Faces of Engineering program run by the Engineers Week Foundation. This program includes representatives from the civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, industrial and manufacturing engineering professions. Selected New Faces profiles, including the top civil engineer chosen by the Engineers Week Foundation, will be featured in a USA Today ad during Engineers Week and will be profiled on the National Engineers Week Web site at www.eweek.org, as well as at www.discoverengineering.org.
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 146,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. For more information, visit www.asce.org.
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