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WATER Institute Activities

The Saint Louis University WATER Institute participates in activities around the U.S. and the world.

Project BALEEN: Hands-on Engineering Research for SSE Undergraduates

A group of students dressed professionally smile while holding up award certificates

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase: Winners of the FIRE category. From left to right on the back row are Jeddrick Gamilla, Ben Groth, Dr. Jean Potvin, Ava Alton, and David Hammond. In the front row from left to right are Jenny Seon and Belinda Minner.

Project BALEEN (Bio-inspired Architectures for Large-scale Extraction of Environmental Nondegradable milli/meso/macro particulates) aims to develop bio-inspired filters to remove medium- to large-sized plastic debris from creeks and rivers. Storm events wash plastics from roadways, industrial production, recycling sites, and other sources into waterways, creating urgent environmental challenges.

Inspired by the baleen whales’ natural filtration system, where whales filter millimeter-sized plankton through crossflow filtration, Project BALEEN adapts this efficient biological strategy to target plastic particles of similar size. Alongside advancing innovative environmental solutions, the project engages students directly in research and technology development, preparing the next generation of engineers to tackle plastic pollution. In 2025, undergraduate students working on Project BALEEN  received the Undergraduate Research Showcase Award in the FIRE category, for Foundational Interdisciplinary Research Experience.

2024 Environmental Immersion Trip to Belize

Students from the course, EAS 2400: Field Techniques in the Geosciences, and the Billikens for Clean Water student organization participated in an 11-day field experience in Belize focused on environmental learning and water resource management.

They engaged in hands-on learning activities, including water sampling, environmental data collection, and the development of collaborative partnerships with local stakeholders. The students conducted fieldwork across diverse ecosystems, including marine environments, tropical rainforests, caves, and river systems, gaining valuable experience in both scientific techniques and effective communication of environmental data.