Carly Hansen is advancing research to support better-informed complex watershed-scale decisions. By assessing gaps within the data-gathering to decision-making process, she hopes to digitally connect people and systems to improve coordination among different sectors and enhance the resiliency of the U.S. power grid through more efficient hydropower systems.
Tell us about your research and its impacts on hydropower.
Intelligent watersheds is a project that I've been involved in that is really aimed at improving connections at the watershed scale for hydropower. So, anything related to long-term planning, operations, development decisions — it all relies on good information and trying to improve connections between people and information to inform their ability to make decisions. It's really bringing together that data, the tools, the models all in the same place and in a streamlined way.
What keeps you motivated?
I often feel like the projects that I'm working on allow me to scratch the surface. And I'm able to uncover a little bit. And that kind of creates this sense of an endless puzzle – in a good way – that there's always more to build on. So, that's pretty motivating that you learn a little bit, but then you recognize really quickly that there's a lot more to learn. Or because you were able to establish a foundation, now you can do something really cool and exciting on top of that.
What would you tell a female student considering a career in water power research and development?
Having the hands-on experience of an internship or working in an engineering firm and being exposed to all these different types of questions and ways that you can explore science and apply engineering skills, that's the best way to learn.
This research is supported by the Water Power Technologies Office in the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.