My research focuses on the chemical physics of the environment. Specifically, I am interested in the role water plays in reactions and phenomena occurring in surface waters, the atmosphere, and the air-water interface. The aim of my research is to further the understanding of the chemistry of natural and affected environments in order to aid in the conservation of nature as well as the progression of our understanding of the physical world.
Water is inarguably the most important molecule in our world, yet many of its mysteries remain to be solved. Furthermore, the growing crisis of freshwater availability is not just limited to the traditional arid regions of the world. Aquifers that have been nourishing crops and sustaining plant and animal life for decades are drying up. The battle for has reached a point where it is no longer a commercial or industrial issue, but it is a socio-economic issue as well. Water is life, and the pressures of population, the industrial revolution, and negligent use are forcing us to re-think our relationship with water.
My goal is to further our understanding of the macroscopic environment. My approach is to utilize both theoretical and experimental tools to study the molecular ensembles that drive the chemistry of the environment.
Dr. Soren N. Eustis – Zürich, May 1st, 2010