UB Engineering Student Wins National Competition

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A research project using high-frequency sound waves to disinfect wastewater has earned a UB engineering student first prize in a national competition sponsored by the Water Environmental Federation (WEF).

Bethany Madge, a doctoral student in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering in the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, submitted her winning entry in WEF's master's-division student-paper competition. Madge's advisor is James N. Jensen, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department.

Her entry was based on her master's degree thesis in UB's environmental-science graduate program.

She received the award at WEF's 72nd Annual Conference and Exposition, which was held recently in New Orleans.

Founded in 1928, WEF is a 40,000-member, non-profit educational and technical organization of water experts.

One of its major objectives is to provide its members and the public with the latest information on wastewater treatment and water-quality protection.

Its members include environmental, civil and chemical engineers; biologists; chemists; government officials; researchers, students and professors; treatment-plant managers and operators; laboratory technicians, and equipment manufacturers and distributors.

Madge lives in Amherst.