AWWA Water Champion – Brooke Mayer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Dr. Brooke Mayer is a professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at Marquette University, where she teaches the next generation of water engineering professionals and researches solutions to pressing water-related challenges. In recognition of Women’s History Month, we celebrate Brooke and all the women making history in the water sector.

Education/certification: Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Arizona State University; M.S., Civil Engineering, Arizona State University; B.S., Civil Engineering, Arizona State University.

Job duties: As a professor at Marquette University, my work aligns with the university’s dedication to “serving our students and contributing to the advancement of knowledge.” When I’m not teaching or researching, I have the privilege of serving as our department’s director of graduate studies, which allows me to assist and guide graduate students as they navigate their education.

How and why did you get into the water sector? During my sophomore year, I was offered a summer/part time consulting internship focused on wastewater treatment with Carollo Engineers. The clinching question in my interview was “Are you willing to climb down into the sewers in the scorching Arizona summer?” While I admitted that scenario was not one that I dreamed of every night, I said I was game.

My undergraduate research focused on the mitigation of viruses in drinking water, and that put me directly on the path to graduate school. Through my teaching assistant and research assistant positions during grad school, I discovered my love for both teaching and research focused on advancing water quality and treatment.

Describe the “In Defense of Water” project and how its research contributes to building a more resilient and sustainable water future: “In Defense of Water” is a multi-phased, collaborative partnership between Marquette University and the Engineering Research and Development Center of the Army Corps of Engineers. This initiative features more than a dozen Marquette faculty from a range of disciplines, including engineering, biological sciences, law, education and economics. The overarching goal of this project is to develop new strategies and technologies to more effectively, efficiently and sustainably safeguard water resources, thereby protecting both human and environmental health.

Our team is addressing some of the most pressing water challenges facing both the Department of Defense and Wisconsin. We’re advancing different facets of water resiliency, including PFAS treatment, advanced water reuse technologies, the impact and mitigation of lead and biofilm in water distribution systems, contaminant sensing and monitoring, climate change impacts and others.

What is one of your proudest accomplishments? I am proud to have been recognized with both teaching and research awards from academia and professional organizations. I love both aspects of what I do and am passionate about serving our students as well as contributing to the advancement of knowledge. I received an NSF CAREER award in recognition of research and education leadership potential for early-career faculty.

How do you see the role of universities and academic research in contributing to innovation and problem-solving in the water sector? Universities and academic research play a crucial role in innovating and solving challenges in the water sector, from technological advancements to data-driven solutions and policy development. Investment in research for innovation drives the development of cutting-edge water treatment and management technologies, improved climate resilience, and shaping evidence-based policies. Beyond the science itself, academic research is critical for training future water professionals and fostering knowledge transfer through industry and government collaborations.

How have you benefited from your AWWA membership? I initially joined AWWA in graduate school with the aim of getting direct access to Journal AWWA. I discovered that membership yielded excellent networking, including through the AZ Water Association (Arizona Section of AWWA), which offered opportunities to attend and present at conferences and get involved with the scholarship committee. I continue to benefit from my AWWA membership, now rooted in the Wisconsin Section, through networking, conferences, and publications. In 2021, I was honored to be awarded the WIAWWA annual Research Award.

Describe your family and personal interests: I am very close with my parents and my brother and his family. We take every possible opportunity to get together and enjoy the great outdoors. My parents live in Wyoming just off the edge of Yellowstone National Park, and every summer I head out to see them and take advantage of the outdoor activities, breathtaking scenery, and unparalleled wildlife viewing. I love to travel in general and was recently able to enjoy visits to the Galapagos, Mexico, and Guatemala – all of which revolved around water!

What would surprise people to know about you? I am an avid “Shark Week” fan. I look forward to watching it every summer and subsequently bore (“amaze”?) everyone around me with esoteric shark trivia. Beyond sharks on the screen, I was super excited to have the opportunity to snorkel near some snoozing white tip reef sharks last summer.