In the News | Saving Our Planet From Ourselves

Norwich, CT (The Day, January 19, 2023) -- Professor Diba Khan-Bureau of Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, a renowned environmental engineer, has spent her professional years both in the classroom and in the field, striving to preserve the health and dignity of the natural world, which our own species has so earnestly been despoiling at an alarming rate. And though our species has labored at the deplorable practice of self-serving gains – at the price of other lifeforms on Planet Earth – dedicated activists like this tireless professional stay the course for a better world.

TRCC students work with first graders from Salem School, who are seen inspecting a river simulator last year.

A onetime environmental engineer for Electric Boat in Groton (mid 1990s), Dr. Khan-Bureau sought to make more of a significant impact in the critical areas of hazardous waste removal, air compliance and, above all, the ever-looming menace of climate change, which she feels must be taken far more seriously.

“While at EB and managing hazardous waste, I dealt with harmful constituents that are commonly found in industrial manufacturing,” she explained. “Certain states, including Connecticut, have strict regulations for this process.”

Professor Khan-Bureau makes it clear that many of us are unaware of harmful products we are exposed to daily, such as plastics, which she states are, “showing up everywhere.” And as necessary and important the work this energetic and still young professional was doing for Electric Boat, Diba Khan-Bureau felt she could make more of an impact as a scientist functioning out in the actual field.

“I fear we are systematically impacting our environment negatively and we need to do something about that now. Herbicides and pesticides are destroying insect species. This sort of behavior must be addressed if we are to keep our world healthy. But it’s extremely difficult to change people’s thinking when you consider there are many countries (80%) that actually include insects as a part of their daily diets.”

The gravity of the rising crisis of our kind’s habitually destructive activities impelled the young professor into becoming a more practicing activist in the field of environmental engineering—leading not only into groundbreaking scientific discoveries of her own, but also into the ultra-important area of education and enlisting eager students into the field as well.

“I was credited with the discovery of a new species of diatoms: the Didymosphenia Hullii.” (For those of us not entirely tuned into scientific jargon, a diatom is a photosynthetic single cell organism … of which there are millions!) And Khan-Bureau is among those knowledgeable enough, active enough, and keen enough in her profession to have made such a discovery.

She not only continues with her invaluable contributions in studying and helping protect the natural world — to which she has devoted a lifetime — she has now also encouraged and mobilized a corps of climate and field warriors, forming a veritable student army of environmental science majors at Three Rivers Community College.

“I’m teaching them about the science involved and the regulations that are crucial both nationwide and worldwide regarding the concerns of today,” Khan-Bureau said. “That includes biodiversity decline, water and air pollution, and the peril of invasive species to name only some of the studies involved. My students and I also vibracore (technique for collecting core samples from riverbeds) into the earth to determine how long these species of nuisance diatoms have been in the Farmington River in Connecticut.”

In essence, this particular professor has transcended the classroom by mustering together and leading a team of budding young students that now share her longtime commitments and convictions.

“Everyone needs to take more seriously our responsibilities to this planet,” she explained with an iron passion that runs deep and sincere. “I don’t think everyday people are deliberately trying to ruin the environment, but the public needs to be better educated about our ecosystem and the services it provides for us, while large corporations must be more mindful of consequences.”

Undeterred by the vitriol spewing out from crass radio and television talk show hosts — and from shortsighted legislators who treat the climate change crisis like the punchline of a crude joke, Khan-Bureau forges ahead with her rapidly rising army of staunch science activists committed to the rescue of our natural world . . . and our future.

“I believe in humanity and in the people who are truly concerned. The beautiful thing about education is that it opens the door to knowledge and opportunity. We’ll find a way,” she added with a smile of quiet confidence.

Our planet has a potent player in this woman—and those who are now following the path that led her to a life of purposeful passion. Doctor Diba Khan-Bureau is training them to care enough about what’s happening to our planet and encouraging them to enter an arena where they might assist in turning it around on behalf of a world in dire need of help.

“Well find a way,” this sincere crusader for our environment assures us.

By: Nicholas Checker

The original article can be found here: Saving Our Planet From Ourselves