Purdue University sophomore Kim Reppa is looking forward to making a positive impact in the area of global energy consumption.
Reppa, a Cedar Lake native, serves as chief marketing officer of the Purdue Energy Forum, comprised of students working to educate the public on new forms of energy and environmental protection.
“PEF hosts conferences, a monthly speaker series, and energy awareness events on campus. Our hope is that we can help students visualize how much energy they are using and inspire them to cut back on wasteful usage,” Reppa said.
“I am really passionate about protecting our ecosystems from damage by human sources. Our behavior will impact all other organisms on Earth, for good or for bad. Our current energy policy, using oil and natural gas, is very hazardous and threatening to nature.”
During a September energy summit held at Purdue’s Discovery Park, Reppa had the opportunity to interact with more than 20 environmentally conscious companies, take tours, and attend workshops.
“The highlight of the day was hearing (U.S.) Senator (Richard) Lugar himself discuss current issues and hold a question-and-answer session with the audience. It was a great opportunity for students to share ideas and learn new concepts,” she said.
An Eli Lilly Community Endowment Scholar, Reppa plans to graduate in 2016 with a chemical engineering degree and pursue public office or a private personal enterprise.
She is currently employed by the NASA and Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she works with the Water Recovery System aboard the International Space Station.
“I love the working environment at NASA. Everyone is excited to be working toward the next big thing in human space flight because of the beneficial scientific and technologic outcomes of our work.
“The discoveries made at NASA have a huge impact on our global society,” she said.
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