When properties are plagued by environmental hazards, geologists such as V3’s Julia Kasner help develop the action plan to set things right. Learn more about how she uses scientific prowess and a philosophic lens to make the world a cleaner, safer place.
To be (a geologist) or not to be
Julia has always been curious about the inner workings of our world. As a kid, she loved hands-on activities like painting and drawing, and often helped her engineer father fix things around the house. Learning how to do things on her own fueled her drive to better understand her surroundings. When it came time for college, she began studying chemistry and philosophy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, but chemistry did not capture her heart. It wasn’t until she discovered geology that she fell in love.
“With philosophy, you focus on how experiences and small elements make up our understanding of the world, and geology is the same: tiny particles work together to build everything around us. I find it fascinating.”
After graduation, Julia had a clear vision of her ideal work environment. She searched for a small to midsize firm where she could get involved in important projects without being lost in the shuffle, with opportunities to work both in the field and the office. Her interview at V3 checked off all those boxes.
“V3 has a great community where everyone is intertwined and ready to explore new things. People stick around for the multitude of learning opportunities and the friendly environment.”
Know thy self, know thy site conditions
When Julia’s on a project, she goes deep—literally. As a member of the Environmental team, it’s her job to assess soil quality on site, testing for possible contamination or compromised conditions. Using a hand auger or the help of a driller, she digs down and collects samples, examining how the dirt looks, smells, and feels, before sending it to a lab for further chemical analysis. This testing helps her and her team determine next steps for compliance or remediation.
“For remediation work, we’re helping clients clean up dangerous hazards and ultimately making a positive impact on the environment. Across our specialties of air, water, and earth, we work together to figure out the best way to fix what’s happened. It’s really important to me how we’re making a difference.”
Outside of field work, Julia creates meticulous reports detailing current findings and future plans. Her background in chemistry helps her skillfully interpret lab results, while her artistic eye adds a nice visual touch to site maps. All this expertise empowers her clients to understand their property’s specific challenges.
“It’s easy to breeze through a report without explaining what the results mean or how we found them, but our team breaks things down so that narrative is easier to digest. We take great care in writing reports, making sure the information we present is clear, of good quality, and easy to understand. Even in client meetings, we explain issues in a way so people know what they’re dealing with and what to do next.”
Excellence is not an act but a habit
Julia’s love of the outdoors carries through to her personal life, where she regularly competes in an ultimate frisbee league. She lives in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood with her girlfriend, and together they enjoy spending time with their pet cat and rabbit.
As she approaches her first anniversary with V3, Julia is excited for what’s to come.
“I came here with a geology background but have been given the opportunity to branch out into air and water as well. I’m very excited to keep learning, build up my experience, and work across all our various departments. There’s a great culture here and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Work with Julia and the Environmental team
Environmental issues require counsel that can help you make educated decisions and determine approaches to maximize opportunities and minimize risks. Contact us to learn more about how our Environmental experts can support your goals.