George Summers, a UGA undergrad studying environmental engineering, has spent his summer at UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Brunswick Station under the advisement of stormwater specialist, Jessica Brown, as part of a stormwater program internship.
Over the course of eight weeks, Summers created conceptual designs for various projects, attended and participated in partner meetings, and used mapping software to produce technical designs and specifications.
One of his projects involved mapping the Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division parking lot. Summers also calculated how much runoff is generated by the area and how much pervious pavement will be needed to prevent future flooding. This summary assessment is designed to inform Division staff about the benefits of best management practices that will better manage stormwater runoff.
“I was really intrigued to be able to take things that I had learned in class like AutoCAD, GIS, and stormwater calculations and apply them to real-life situations,” says Summers. “While I have learned new things this summer, the biggest development for me has been enhancing the engineering skills I’ve learned in a classroom in a real life, unguided environment.”
The Stormwater Program Internship was made possible through Marine Extension Trust Fund. The Trust Fund was established in 1988 under the leadership of Ed Chin, founding father of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. The Award honors the 24-year leadership of Ed Chin, who started the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant program from the ground up and shaped it into a vital resource for coastal and estuarine research, education, and outreach along the coast.