SYBIL SHARVELLE

Associate Professor
Civil & Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University

1. Please describe your field of research. How does your job relate to bioengineering?
I study graywater reuse. This is the water from shower, bath, and laundry. It used for irrigation and toilet
flushing. Using graywater means we can reduce how much water we need in our houses. We do not drink
graywater because microbes are not removed from it. We need to study the microbes in graywater so we
can figure out what needs to be removed or killed. Clean graywater is important for irrigating crops.

2. What kinds of problems do you work to solve? How do you identify these problems and
how do you go about solving them?
I design systems that conserve water by using graywater. I help design water treatment systems to control
how many microbes are in the water so people and animals dont get sick if they touch or drink the water.
To solve this problem, I have learned about bacteria and other microbes. I also have learned how to
remove them from water.

3. Why is your work important to society or to other engineers and scientists?

If we use graywater we can reduce the amount of water we use by 30%. This will help us conserve water.
We can keep more water in the environment. This is important in places that do not have enough water,
like California.

4. What is your favorite part about what you do?

I love that the work I do can help the environment and peoples health.

5. What did you have to study to get to where you are?

I studied how water is moved around in cities. I learned this in engineering classes. I studied which
bacteria and viruses make us sick. I studied this in microbiology classes.

6. What messages do you have for 5th graders about how scientists and engineers work
together?
Engineers must work with scientists. They can use their knowledge of risks, biology, and chemistry to be
better designers.