DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS
SUBSURFACE REMEDIATION EDUCATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN
EXTERNAL INDUSTRIAL/RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Alex S. Mayer*, Assistant Professor
Geological Engineering and Sciences Department and
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI 49931
Tel.: 906-487-3372; Fax: 906-487-3371; E-Mail: asmayer@mtu.edu
David S. Shonnard and John S. Gierke
Michigan Technological University


ABSTRACT

The remediation of subsurface contamination through physical, chemical, and biological means is essential for reducing health risks to citizens, protecting and restoring groundwater resources, and sustaining industrial development in virtually all parts of the world. Growing regulatory mandates is leading to rapid developments of innovative remediation technologies, but the acceptance and implementation of new techniques are mech slower because of gaps existing in the state-of-knowledge and state-of-practice. Innovative curricula that integrate teaching and research activities are well suited to narrow this gap. Towards this end, a new set of lecture and laboratory courses which emphasize the fundamentals and design aspects of traditional and innovative subsurface remediation technologies and which provide hands-on experience have been developed at Michigan Technological University. Faculty and students within the disciplines of chemical, civil, environmental, geological, and geoenvironmental engineering collaborate in classroom, laboratory, and research efforts. A new laboratory facility was constructed for demonstrating and assessing subsurface remediation techniques at a range of scales from benchtop to a large remediation vessel (24'x24'x8' high) for simulating field conditions. The combined curriculum and research activities benefit the students by providing opportunities to: (1) practice integration of different engineering (e.g. fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, process engineering) and scientific (e.g. microbiology, organic chemistry) skills, (2) gain experience in collecting and interpreting data, (3) develop an appreciation for the uncertainty involved with remediation design, (4) to explore modern research methods, and (5) observe some practical limitations of remediation techniques. This presentation will highlight the teaching and research accomplishments in developing new educational materials in this technological area in partnership with industry and an external scientific/curriculum advisory committee.


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