Environmental Internship Program - 2023 Booklet

Anna Pinkerton ’24
GEOSCIENCES
WATER AND THE
ENVIRONMENT
PROJECT TITLE
Study of Rock and Water
Samples From Mpala
Research Centre
ORGANIZATION(S)
Niespolo Research
Group, Department of
Geosciences, Princeton
University
LOCATION(S)
Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)
Elizabeth Niespolo,
Assistant Professor of
Geosciences
My project aimed to help establish a
comprehensive geologic analysis of the Mpala
Research Centre in central Kenya. The goal
of this long term project is to determine the
viability of groundwater in the region for use as
drinking water or for crops. The field samples
for this project are still in transit from Mpala
Research Centre, so the majority of my work
was to conduct a literature review and to gain
familiarity with the necessary laboratory
methods, for example thin section analysis and
basic petrographic and geochemical analysis.
Through this research experience, I have gained
experience in fieldwork, lab work and literature
review. My contributions to the project are in its
groundwork, and understanding the rocks in this
region is essential to future research on the water
found in nearby aquifers. The project is of a much
larger scope than I had originally anticipated,
and I have chosen to continue with the project as
part of my senior thesis research.
* This internship is connected to the HMEI Water
and the Environment Grand Challenges project,
“Initiating Natural History and Groundwater
Research at Mpala Research Center.”
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