Liana Awe (she/her)
Junior, Class of 2026
Hometown: Mesquite, Texas
1. Which area are you more focused on--civil or environmental engineering?
I am focused on environmental engineering, and within that umbrella, I am most interested in renewable energy.
2. Did you want to do civil and environmental engineering in high school/early years at Rice?
No, coming into college, I thought I wanted to do environmental law, but after my first semester, I questioned whether this desire would stay with me for the next four years. After talking to friends and advisors, I learned that you can go to law school with an engineering degree, so I figured I had some “foolproof” plan. If I didn’t want to go to law school by application deadlines, I could just go into industry, and if I did, I could continue as normal. Well, almost three years into that plan, I have unlocked a third option: graduate school. We will see how that goes.
3. What has helped you figure out what to study?
Last year, a friend proposed the idea of participating in a Department of Energy competition, where students are challenged to come up with business plans for emerging energy technologies Together, we created a plan focused on implementing a hydrogen distribution system aimed at expanding the hydrogen economy by establishing refueling stations for hydrogen vehicles. Although we didn’t place in the competition, the project exposed me to hydrogen as an energy source and deepened my understanding of the challenges that hinder its widespread adoption.
What interested me the most was the real-world applicability. We were actively working on a problem that had no real solution yet. The experience helped me refine my focus on sustainability in hydrogen technologies.
4. Ideally, what is your life like after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to be pursuing a PhD in renewable energy. I am currently working on the specifics of professors/locations/areas of study as I write this. Eventually, I would like to be a professor. I have yet to have a black professor, and I think it would be meaningful to take on that role and provide that kind of representation in academia; after all, if you want something done, do it yourself, right? I also have found, through my various tutoring roles, that I do enjoy teaching. I also want to be involved in research, as I enjoy both sharing knowledge and contributing to advancements in the field.
Thank you for allowing us to learn more about you, Liana! We’re so glad you are a part of the civil and environmental engineering community.
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