Civil Engineering with Environmental Engineering MSc

Stephanie Mergen

Stephanie Mergen, completed her first degree in Germany and switched to Portsmouth to complete her Master’s in Civil Engineering.
The desire to live by the sea helped bring me to England and, more specifically, Portsmouth and now the threat of floods globally and finding ways to keep water at bay is what is inspiring my studies.
I am working as a researcher and doing testing for a Manchester-based company on developing permeable pavements which help prevent flooding and which also contain micro-organisms which ‘clean’ pollutants from the water.
In my first degree I specialised in water and environment management. It was fascinating and I wanted to further deepen my studies in this area. I am very interested in the environment, natural water cycles, the supply of water and rain water treatment so I decided to write my dissertation for my Master’s on this subject.
My work on permeable pavements involves testing different products to use under the block paving surface to collect and store water and filter it to remove harmful metals and oil washed into drains from cars.
It’s important work is done to help find a solution to increased rainfall and risk of flooding as well as ways to help combat pollutants from vehicles entering the drains and waterways.
Permeable pavements are already used in many cities across Europe but my current research and testing aims to help advance the science of collecting water and making such a system self-cleaning and self-sustaining.
Once I graduate I hope to stay in the UK and get a job so I can gain more industry experience