Patrick Dryer
- Ashland, Wis.
- B.S. in geography
- What's next: Working as a geographic information science intern with the Alaska Conservation Foundation in Homer, Alaska, before attending graduate school at Missouri State University in fall 2008
 |
UW-Eau Claire photo by Rick Mickelson |
Patrick Dryer departs from the Chippewa Valley with his UW-Eau Claire bachelor's degree, but as he goes he also leaves something behind.
Thanks to research Dryer conducted as a geography student, officials for the city of Eau Claire now have a possible solution to their challenge of ridding a lake of industrial organic waste deposited during the city's sawmill era. Community leaders in Eau Claire and other Wisconsin cities have long struggled with the problem of how to dispose of the nutrient-rich waste that causes excess plant growth in lakes.
Dryer investigated the feasibility of recycling or composting the waste-saturated sediment in Eau Claire's Half Moon Lake. He secured a $7,000 grant from the UW System Solid Waste Research Program for the project, the findings of which he presented to Eau Claire city officials this spring. (Read more about the project in a university news release.)
The Half Moon Lake project received fifth-place honors in April at UW-Eau Claire's annual Student Research Day, where Dryer was one of more than 400 students displaying research findings. Earlier in April, Dryer also presented the project at the 2008 Association of American Geographers conference in Boston.
The trip to Boston was just one of several travel opportunities for Dryer during his time at UW-Eau Claire. He also traveled to New Zealand and the U.S. desert Southwest, where he participated in field work for two capstone courses. The results from those studies also were presented at UW-Eau Claire's Student Research Day, and the desert Southwest research was presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Denver. A study-abroad experience in Dalkeith, Scotland, rounded out Dryer's travels as a UW-Eau Claire student. He plans one more adventure, as a geographic information science intern in Homer, Alaska, before attending graduate school in fall 2008.
Dryer enjoyed the opportunities available at UW-Eau Claire to participate in research. He noted that when presenting his research at national conferences, attendees would ask where he earned his master's degree.
"I would tell them, 'I'm still an undergraduate,' and they were pretty surprised," he said.
After earning his master's degree from Missouri State University, where he has been granted a tuition waiver and a graduate assistantship, Dryer hopes to work as a consultant.
"I like being outdoors," he said. "I'd like to find something that allows me to be out in the field."
More on Patrick Dryer
Future plans: After graduation I will be traveling to Alaska for a geography internship. I obtained an internship with the Alaska Conservation Foundation working with the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust in Homer, Alaska, as a geographic information science intern.
After my internship I plan to attend graduate school in Missouri. I plan to pursue a master's degree in geospatial sciences (fluvial geomorphology) at Missouri State University.
Unique aspects of his UW-Eau Claire experience: UW-Eau Claire has provided many opportunities that I would not have encountered elsewhere. I participated in student/faculty undergraduate research and traveled around the world. I was able to attend professional conferences to present my undergraduate research in Denver, Colo., and Boston, Mass.
The geography department at UW-Eau Claire also provides many great opportunities to travel. For my capstone experiences I traveled to the desert Southwest for a week as well as New Zealand for two weeks.
Highlights of life at UW-Eau Claire: Traveling to New Zealand, undergraduate research, professional conferences, studying abroad.
Proudest college accomplishments: While completing my undergraduate research I was given an award from the UW-Eau Claire geography department for excellence in geography research. I was also awarded a very large research grant for funding for my undergraduate research project. I was also featured on WEAU TV-13 and in the Leader-Telegram newspaper for my undergraduate research.
Advice for incoming students: Get involved and take advantage of every opportunity possible. You never know where you will end up.
Learn about other featured May 2008 graduates
