“I grew up in a patriarchal culture, raised to be an obedient follower. However, I wanted to be more than just a follower,” says Nino Stea. She remembers being an inquisitive child. “Growing up in Tbilisi, an eastern European city in Georgia, I would often go off exploring the neighborhood. I also remember playing with construction toys with my older brother and following my father around with a hammer and screwdriver helping him fix things in the house.”
In 2023, Nino finished her undergraduate studies in environmental engineering at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and is now pursuing her doctoral degree from the same institution. During the American Water Works Association’s 2024 Annual Conference & Expo, Nino was presented the Woodard & Curran Scholarship. Established in 2017, this annual scholarship provides $5,000 to members of historically marginalized communities, such as women and/or Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), pursuing an advanced degree as a means of advancing equity in the industry.
Trailblazing a path for women in the water industry
During Nino’s academic studies, she has taken on several leadership roles to break down barriers for other women in the engineering field. She joined UCF’s Water Quality Engineering Research Group (WQERG) and is the lead graduate student working with the Sarasota Utilities Department to screen potable water for the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the system. The project is focused on studying the contaminant’s chemistry and how its molecular structure plays a role in PFAS removal. The research is intended to provide useful occurrence data for the water purveyor’s planning needs. In this capacity, she also trains undergraduate students on various laboratory tasks.
She is actively involved in various programs, setting an example for her daughters and other women who may not otherwise consider careers in the male dominated fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). As a STEM Ambassador, she leads hands-on activities related to water and wastewater, informing aspiring students of treatment, conservation, and reuse. She also served as the project leader for an aquaponics project in rural Bithlo, which is addressing poverty in the community by providing a supplemental food supply.
