Portland State Magazine Winter 2019

33 AT THIS MOMENT SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD A KID JUST LIKE YOU, GROWING UP IN OREGON A KID JUST LIKE ME, GROWING UP IN IRAQ IS STANDING BY A RIVER THAT RUNS THROUGH HIS CITY OR VILLAGE OR RIGHT BY HIS BACK DOOR. BUT THAT RIVER IS NO LONGER A RIVER. IT’S NOW BECOME A TOXIC WASTE DUMP. A MOVING SEWER. DRIVING AWAY FAMILIES AND SHUTTING DOWN BUSINESSES. MY DREAM AND THE DREAM OF THOSE I MENTOR AT PSU IS TO FIND A REMEDY. TO RESEARCH AND INVENT INGENIOUS NEW SOLUTIONS. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IN PLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD, SEWERS DREAM OF TURNING BACK INTO RIVERS. ~ Bashar Al-Daomi / Ph.D. Candidate / Wastewater Engineering