UA Engineering Student Selected for U.N. Climate Change Conference

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A chemical engineering student at The University of Alabama was selected to attend a United Nations climate change conference this fall.

Emily Bloomquist, a sophomore from Tucker, Ga., was chosen by the American Chemical Society Committee on Environmental Improvement to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 19th Conference of the Parties in Warsaw, Poland, Nov. 16-22.

She is one of only six students chosen nationally to represent ACS at the conference. Students were chosen under the criteria of demonstrating academic preparedness, awareness and enthusiasm in representing ACS.

ACS is the world’s largest, congressionally chartered scientific society whose global membership uses chemistry with the goal of identifying new solutions, improving public health, protecting the environment and contributing to the economy.

The purpose of the convention is to enhance civilian literacy on global climate change.

“I think that attending this conference will give me a better idea of what direction the world is heading in when it comes to controlling climate change, which will give me a place to stand in my career to help curb that change,” Bloomquist said.

For the convention, the six student delegates are assigned the role of student professional correspondents and are encouraged to employ social media skills in spreading awareness of the causes and consequences of climate change. This will include using tools like Youtube, FaceTime apps and an ACS-hosted blog.

Bloomquist is an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Robin Rogers, professor and holder of the Robert Ramsay Chair of Chemistry at UA and director of UA’s Center for Green Manufacturing. Rogers encouraged her to apply, Bloomquist said.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has more than 4,100 students and about 120 faculty. Students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater, Hollings, Portz and Truman scholars.

The chemistry department is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.