Astronomy alumni tackle water conservation on Earth

Arts & Science alum Emily Tyhurst poses with a fire hydrant fitted with an acoustic sensor during her previous role that helped her locate leaks in a city’s water system – this one in New Jersey.

After years of studying the cosmos, Arts & Science alumni Adiv Paradise (PhD 2021) and Emily Tyhurst (MSc 2022) have used their U of T degrees to solve a problem much closer to home.

Instead of scanning the skies for signals from deep space, these scientists and former colleagues at Echologics have used acoustic sensors to find leaks in municipal water systems, harnessing the same skills they refined as graduate students with the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics.

“The math in acoustics is nearly identical to how radio telescopes form beams to detect signals from space,” says Paradise, a data scientist with Echologics. At U of T, he researched exoplanet climates, developing sophisticated 3D models that revealed atmospheric conditions including temperature, wind patterns and radiation on distant worlds.

“Sensors wake up and record sound as it travels down a pipe from a leak,” explains Paradise. “I then calculate the time delay and link that to a location in the system so we can alert utilities who will send a technician to repair it.”

Echologics monitors 116 cities around the world. From his work with water-stressed San Jose, Calif., to the growth-driven water challenges of Omaha, Neb., Paradise estimates that damaged pipes cause the loss of between 10 and 30 per cent of water before it reaches customers.

“Water is typically a city’s single largest electricity user,” says Paradise. “If we can help reduce water loss, we're also reducing carbon emissions in really measurable ways.”

Paradise and Tyhurst have also assessed pipe conditions by sending sound through water mains and analyzing how it travels, distinguishing actual leaks from weak spots and background noise to help cities catch problems early.

“I love telling people about that job because I think more people should be aware of how delicate our water systems are,” says Tyhurst. She studied the spatial arrangement of galaxies in the universe and what that can tell us about the early stages of the Big Bang.

Tyhurst is now putting her degree to work on a new challenge as a senior analyst in business and strategic planning at CBC/Radio-Canada, where she helps shape the broadcaster's digital strategy and ensures Canadians have access to quality programming.

Classmates continued academic dialogue as colleagues

Much like their U of T days, Paradise and Tyhurst continued their academic dialogue during their time as colleagues with Echologics. The former classmates brainstormed the latest astrophysics papers, debating if anything could be applied to their current projects.  “U of T was the perfect place to do my PhD,” says Paradise. “I gained the technical skills to transfer to my current role, but I also learned how to make connections with other scientists, which would prove to be a key asset later on.”

Connections made at U of T were valuable for Tyhurst’s career transition as well. Advisors with the university’s Career Learning Network paired her with an alum mentor who guided her networking efforts and revealed job opportunities she didn't know existed.

“I highly recommend everyone tap into U of T’s career services as a student or alum,” says Tyhurst. “There are so many people who have taken what they’ve learned in university and applied it to meaningful work outside their traditional field of study.”

Tyhurst later had a moment to pay that support forward. When Echologics was hiring another data analyst, she reached out to Paradise. “I earned my role thanks in part to another alum’s guidance, and I was eager to help a fellow grad,” says Tyhurst. “I knew Adiv was going to thrive.”

A shared passion for a sustainable future

Despite no longer being co-workers, Paradise and Tyhurst are bonded as alumni and by their shared passion for supporting a sustainable future, no matter what field of work they’re in. “It can be intimidating to put yourself out there, but there are so many opportunities when you start connecting with people for guidance,” says Tyhurst. “Before you know it, the whole world opens up to you.”

Originally published by The Faculty of Arts & Science