Scripps Student Spotlight: Hadley Menk

Hadley Menk is a student in the Master of Advanced Studies in Climate Science and Policy (MAS CSP) program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Menk grew up in Charlotte, Vt. and received her undergraduate degrees in geography and modern history from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. At Scripps Oceanography, Menk has been researching the identification of spectral signatures of untreated wastewater pollution in the Tijuana River and off the coast of Imperial Beach, Calif., which can help verify satellite remote sensing data.

explorations now (en): Why did you choose to attend Scripps?

Hadley Menk (HM): Prior to Scripps, I was an environmental consultant working on federal drinking water policy (I actually still work there part time). I became interested in the interactions between climate change, water quality and availability. I chose Scripps because I wanted to strengthen my understanding of the physical science of climate change while getting to use my policy background. The MAS CSP program provides a really unique combination of science and policy.  

en: What are you researching at Scripps?

HM: I’m researching whether we can identify a unique spectral signature of untreated wastewater pollution in the Tijuana River and off the coast of Imperial Beach, Calif., which can help verify satellite remote sensing data. Specifically, I’m analyzing water samples from the Tijuana River, Tijuana Estuary and Pacific Ocean with a spectrometer, then comparing the spectrometry data to water quality data from those samples to find out if there’s a detectable spectral signature of wastewater. 

The transboundary wastewater pollution crisis across the U.S./Mexico border has been a problem for decades, and it is a significant public health risk to local residents. Remote sensing tools present a potentially quick and low-cost way to detect water pollution, which is important not just in the Tijuana case but in other parts of the world. This is especially important as climate change continues to impact water quality. My project is part of a larger body of research going on at Scripps Oceanography, San Diego State University, and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

en: How did you become interested in science and your field of study?

HM: Growing up in Vermont, I spent a lot of time outside. I enjoyed hiking, skiing and swimming in Lake Champlain, which instilled in me a love of the environment and a desire to understand the landscapes around me. But I also enjoyed humanities subjects in school, and it wasn’t until college that I began to seriously consider a career in science. In my geography classes, we talked a lot about climate change, including reading Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and doing fieldwork where we calculated the blue carbon storage of a salt marsh. This inspired me to do an internship with the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, where I helped run workshops for K-12 educators on how to teach climate change and I learned more about issues affecting coastal communities. That experience was really powerful and solidified my desire to pursue a career in the environmental space.

en: What’s life like as a Scripps student? Describe a typical day.

HM: A typical day at Scripps includes classes, some research project work or planning, and catching up with classmates over coffee. Some days I go down to Imperial Beach to collect water samples, analyze water samples or head over to SDSU to meet with other students and Principal Investigators working on the larger project. My friends also talked me into joining an intramural soccer team with some other graduate students from Scripps, which has been really fun. And of course, there are plenty of walks and sunsets at La Jolla Shores! 

en: What’s the most exciting thing about your work (in the field or in the lab)?

HM: I’m passionate about my work because it’s a research project with a very obvious human connection. I chose to study geography as an undergrad because I believe places and environments have emotional meaning to people, and because I enjoy working with spatial data. My project allows me to work with really cool data, but also has a very clear connection to public health, marine life health and the way people experience the environment. 

en: Are there any role models or mentors who have helped you along the way?

HM: There are so many! The first research project I worked on was with Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux andCaitlin Crossett at the University of Vermont, and I can attribute a lot of my research skills to them. They gave me a lot of responsibility for an undergrad and answered my (many) questions as I figured out how to do research. Ian Lawson, my bachelor's thesis advisor, gave me the freedom to create my own research questions and had great advice on balancing science and life. Then, of course, my master’s advisors — Dan Sousa at San Diego State University and Sarah Giddings here at Scripps — have been invaluable in their advice and support of my project. Finally, I’d like to shout out one of my history professors, Sarah Easterby-Smith, who taught a history of science seminar I took in college that really changed the way I view science as a discipline and how I aspire to practice science. 

en: What are some of the challenges you face as a student?

HM: Like many in my cohort, I had a few years between undergrad and grad school where I worked full time. While I’m really happy to be back in school, the transition can be strange at first. I also work part time while I’m in school, and while my employer is really supportive, it can be challenging at times balancing work, school and socializing. But I have great friends in the cohort and there’s always something fun to do, especially living by the beach!  

en: What are your plans post-Scripps?

HM: I hope to continue working on issues related to the intersection of water and climate change, such as by helping cities and water agencies plan more resilience in water delivery or water treatment infrastructure. I’d love to build a career where I can combine research and policy.  

You can find Menk on Instagram @climatesciencegirl and on LinkedIn.