George Thomas Jr. recently celebrated a major milestone: research connected to his floating wetlands capstone project was published in Science Direct. The multi-year capstone brought together several SMEA alumni (classes of 2019,2020, and 2021), and Geogre continued contributing to the work after graduation, serving as a co-author on the newly published article through ScienceDirect titled “Water Quality benefits of a nature-based solution: Constructed floating wetlands tested on two urban waterways”.

The project represents what George and his colleagues believe to be the only in situ research conducted on floating wetlands, advancing knowledge in an emerging area of ecosystem restoration and water quality innovation. His hands-on fieldwork during the capstone helped lay the foundation for research that is now contributing to broader environmental scholarship.

In addition to his research collaborations, George continues to work at UW in digital marketing. He also manages AboutClimateChange.com, a climate-focused website he founded in 2018 to make climate science and solutions more accessible to the public.

George’s journey reflects the long-term impact of capstone research, demonstrating how student projects can evolve into meaningful, published contributions to the field while supporting ongoing professional growth.