About Melody Zheng, L.E.A.D. Research Fellow
Melody Zheng is a student researcher dedicated to solving environmental challenges through hands-on experimentation and data-driven solutions. With a strong background in STEM, including AP Statistics and data analysis experience from Data Jam, she combines technical skill with real-world problem solving.
As co-leader of IMPACT Club, Melody has led community initiatives and developed projects aimed at creating meaningful change beyond the classroom.
Her current research focuses on reducing nitrogen pollution in stormwater, which is a key driver of harmful algae blooms that kill fish, damage ecosystems, and contaminate drinking water. This issue directly affects communities in Lubao, Philippines, where water quality is critical to public health and local livelihoods.
Donations will fund materials, lab testing, and data analysis needed to develop a practical solution. With your support, this project can help protect ecosystems, improve water quality, and create lasting impact for vulnerable communities.
About My Research:
Cleaning Water with Natural Bioretention Cells
Hypothesis
Building a deep, specialized garden with native plants and a “saturated” underground layer will clean harmful chemicals (nitrate-nitrogen) out of rainwater before it reaches the local water supply.
In Lubao, Philippines, the implementation of a bioretention cell with a 30-inch deep subsurface saturated zone (SZ) and an upturned elbow hydraulic control—containing a carbon-augmented substrate of coarse sand, coconut coir, and hardwood mulch, planted with Vetiveria zizanioides, Fimbristylis miliacea, and Canna indica—will cause a statistically significant decrease in nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) concentration in the effluent compared to the influent runoff.
Outcomes
Primary Benefit: Mitigation of eutrophication in local waterways. By filtering nitrogen compounds from agricultural runoff, the project protects aquatic ecosystems and local fisheries. The system reduces water runoff, providing a sustainable method for managing flooding while improving water quality.
Health: The system directly addresses the contamination of local drinking wells, which is caused by algal blooms resulting from nutrient overload.
Flooding: The design incorporates a 6-inch Ponding Zone to reduce surface runoff.
Economic: Served as an educational tool promoting environmental literacy and hands-on STEM engagement, offering community skills development.
Applications: The bioretention cell design serves as a scalable prototype for “active architecture” that can be implemented in various community spaces such as schools, parks, and civic centers.