Lucas Crane

Lucas Crane decided to pursue a degree in environmental engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University because he believes he can use it to truly make a difference.

“I saw the many environmental problems happening around the world, including in the United States, with events such as the Flint water crisis,” he says, “and I wanted to commit myself to being part of the solution for these types of issues.” 

Crane, a National Merit Scholar, believes his biggest achievements during his time at ASU are related to the multiple research projects he has participated in, including the two semesters he spent doing research as part of the Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative.

“I’ve been able to be involved in so many different projects that all have the potential to have widespread impacts on the world of environmental engineering,” Crane says. “I’m most proud of my thesis project on sustainable cement production. This project was mostly independently done and my hope is to have this work published in an academic journal.”

During his sophomore year, Crane was approached by Associate Professor Treavor Boyer to conduct research with him on water quality within buildings. Crane says Boyer was instrumental in helping him grow as a student and that Boyer became a significant mentor in his academic career.

“Dr. Boyer gave me the opportunity to work on problems within the urban water cycle, and in the process, he gave me the tools I needed to better do work within the environmental engineering field,” Crane says.

Crane’s goal of using his talents for the good of the people around him led him to get involved in the community in a variety of ways. He provided sustainability education to underprivileged families as part of the Leadership Scholarship Program, and through the Refugee Integration, Stability, and Education program, he was able to provide mentorship and tutoring to refugee children living in the Phoenix area.

“Each of these things can have a widespread impact on the community around them,” Crane says. “I have been privileged enough to be put in a position where I can make that impact happen.”

A Barrett, The Honors College student, Crane is continuing at ASU where he will complete his 4+1 master’s degree in environmental engineering before eventually pursuing a doctoral degree.

“In the long term, I want to work in academia conducting research on urban water cycle issues and mentoring a new generation of environmental engineers,” Crane says. “The biggest engineering achievement I’d like to be a part of in the future is conducting research on making our water and wastewater systems completely sustainable.”

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ Spring 2021 class here.