A Fulbright Grant of $25,000 was recently awarded to AssistantProfessor of Geology Steven Emerman.

The money will allow Emerman and two Simpson students, juniorAimee Luhrs and senior Kristine Robson, to go to Nepal and studythe quantity of arsenic and other heavy metals that exist in thewater.

“I became interested in arsenic contamination of water when Iwent to teach in Nepal,” Emerman said. “People may not be aware ofit, but contaminated water is the number one cause of death ofpeople around the world.”

Emerman and the two students will be working in conjunction withfour students and a professor from the same university whereEmerman taught in Katmandu, Nepal.

“I see this opportunity as a big cultural experience to everyoneinvolved in it,” Emerman said. “Even the students from Katmanduwill live different experiences while working with us because theenvironment will not be the same as the one they’re accustomedto.”

The project will start next summer and will take place near Mt.Everest.

This grant is one of only 10 national Fulbright Foundationawards every year.