Esenam Adzo Fumador
Ghanaian Student Measures Air Quality
Second-year student Esenam Adzo Fumador is conducting innovative research on air quality and preparing for a career as an environmental impact consultant. Hailing from the West African country of Ghana, she earned a bachelor's in Environmental Science from the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Cape Coast, Ghana and a master's in Environmental Science at the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Ghana, Legon before coming to UTEP.
Building on her first master's thesis on air quality in the Tema Industrial area of Ghana, Esenam arrived in El Paso wanting to take advantage of the resources and the expertise not available in her home country. Specifically, she wanted to learn more sophisticated methods of air quality control and the measurement of particulates. "I have learned a lot of new information that I wouldn't have known back home," Esenam explained, "and technology is constantly changing, making me better at what I do."
Esenam's work has important implications to public health and the use of fossil fuels and has prepared her for a career as an environmental consultant. She is currently measuring cerium levels in fine and course airborne particulates in the El Paso region. These particles are being considered for use as additives in fuel, but little research exists regarding their impact on our health. Having assisted with environmental consulting in her home country, the Ghana native wants to inform companies on the environmental impact of the current and proposed projects. Further equipping her to achieve this goal, Esenam is also pursuing graduate certificates in (GIS) and in Big Data Analytics, which will help her make sense of her data. "As an environmental consultant," she said, "you must be able to collect, analyze, and present your results to companies who do not know the science behind their project."
In addition to her ambitious academic plan, Esenam is a part-time faculty member in the Developmental Math program, which prepares freshmen for college math. Working with UTEP students reminds her of when she taught math and science to high schoolers as a master's student in Ghana. Esenam also hopes to sightsee around the U.S. and hike the Franklin Mountains, which have captivated her since she first arrived. "You can't limit yourself to just one thing," she said, "you can do anything you put your mind to."
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