The Poster

I am almost done with my poster for class. The poster was a lot harder to layout than I thought it would be. The main problem was giving out enough information, yet not giving out so much that all it is is a lot of reading.

The talks last week seemed to go quite well. Several of the topics I had never even looked at before. Especially, the beetle presentation. I have only taken an introductory entomology course, so it was all new to me.

A Flock of Dodos

After watching the movie, it was quite obvious that the Evolution scientists have the best facts on their side. However, they are not doing what it takes to communicate their ideas to the general public. The Intelligent Designer's are able to simplify their message into catchphrases that are easily learned and repeated by the general public. The phrases are simplistic and easily remembered.

The Evolution scientists appeared unable, and maybe even unwilling, to simplify their message for the general public. They used larger words that many people don't usually use. The use of these words leads to confusion for the general public. The main problem was when the scientists refused to show up for the debate. By boycotting the debate and leaving only a lawyer to answer the questions, it made the scientists look weak. That weakness resulted in the general public believing that the scientists were unable to defend their position.

The scientists refusal to debate the situation only resulted in the intelligent designers becoming more popular. The boycotting of the debate actually appeared to make the problem worse. In order for the scientists to be more effective, they need to adopt the same strategies as the intelligent designers. The scientists need to hire a PR firm to put together a campaign with slogans and talking points. Without a PR campaign, I think it is unrealistic to think that the scientists will be able to communicate effectively with the general public.

Change of Topic

I have decided to change my research topic to Livestock Waste Management. I worked for the Kansas Dept of Health and Environment for a year in the livestock waste management inspection area. Because of my experience in the area I think that my presentation and poster would be quite a bit more interesting, at least for me. I hope to impart some of my knowledge on the class and the ways that geology and biology play into livestock waste management.

ECM Description

ECM Description
Making the image on Illustrator was actually fairly easy. Most of my time was spent simply entering the data. I had never used Illustrator before and I find it quite useful after having worked on this project.

Reaserch Topic

I am thinking of changing my research topic area to Animal Waste and its possible pollution. I have worked in this area before and know a significant amount about it already. I also have been doing a lot of research on animal waste and the new regulatory requirements being put into place.

Columnar Jointing

The original image of Columnar Jointing was chosen simply because it was something that I have never seen before. I zoomed in and clipped out a particular area of jointing that looked interesting. I think modified several aspects of the image to clear it up.

GeoMapApp Project

The dataset that I have chosen to look at is the Nephelometry Station information. The Nephelometry shows the amount of light that passes through a sample of water. The amount of light that passes through shows the turbidity of the water. The turbidity is the indication of the amount of suspended particles present in the water.

Using the information from the nephelometry surveys, the turbidity of the water at outlet points of rivers can be compared to areas in the open ocean. The differences will show a general area of where the suspended particles will begin to fall out of the water and deposit on the ocean floor. That information can be used to find areas of higher deposition that may yield a better record of past events where more suspended solids were added to the outletting rivers. That will indicate flood type events and partially their intensity.

A new project

Though the new project doesn't go along with groundwater, it's still quite interesting. Dr. Parcell and I are working on making a new system of cataloguing the specimens in the rock and mineral collection room. The old system is not completely understandable and only on paper. We are working to get the new system no only more understandable and on a computer database. The trays are also missing several samples and we are hoping too many aren't gone.
I am also working on looking through and cataloguing the mineral trays in the cabinets. They have never been catalogued in any noticeable way. They are just grouped by minerals present in the tray.

Current Informative Articles

1. Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater Using Biological Techniques by Paul E. Flathman, Douglas E. Jerger, and Lucy S. Bottomley

Two case studies are evaluated for their effectiveness in using biological remediation methods. The first deals with an ethylene glycol leak, the use of a natural occurring bacteria that uses ethylene glycol as a food source.
The second with Dichloromethane from a leaking pipeline. Engineered bacteria were brought in that use DCM as a sole energy and carbon source.

2. Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Groundwater: The perspectives of History and Hydrology
by Francis H. Chapelle

The article starts out with the first consideration of using natural organisms to remediate hydrocarbon spills in 1971. It continues through to modern techniques that take many factors into account before a remediation plan in is enacted.

3. In Situ Remediation of Contaminated Ground Water: The Funnel-and-Gate System by Robert C. Starr and John A. Cherry

The technique uses a wall of funnels that are used in a low hydraulic conductivity situation. The funnels have a porous membrane in the bottom that have either a biotic or abiotic reactant that removes the contaminants.

4. In Situ Biorestoration as a Ground Water Remediation Technique by John T. Wilson, Lowell E. Leach, Michael Henson, and Jerry N. Jones

The article presents the current problems with bioremediation techniques and how newer techniques are being developed to better remove contaminants. Most of the current techniques are based on the techniques pioneered in the mid 1970's.

5 Long-Term Performance of an In Situ "Iron Wall" for Remediation of VOCs by Stephanie F. O'Hannesin and Robert W. Gillham

The article looks at the long term effectiveness in the use of granular iron for in situ remediation. The granular iron reacts with the VOC's, causing carbonates to be produced.

6. In Situ Remediation of Groundwater Contaminated by Heavy- and Transition-Metal Ions by Selective Ion Exchange Methods by Mark Y. Vilensky, Brian Berkowitz, and Abraham Warshawsky

7. Technical Protocol For Implementing Intrinsic Remediation With Long-Term Monitoring For Natural Attenuation Of Fuel Contamination Dissolved In Groundwater by Todd H. Wiedemeier

8. Soil Remediation Techniques at Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites A Critical Review by Ronald C. Sims

9. Remediation of Polluted Soils and Sediment: Perspectives and Failures by W. H. Rulkens, R. Tichy, and J. T. C. Grotenhuis

10. Optimal Ground-Water Remediation Methods Applied to a Superfund Site: From Formulation to Implementation by David P. Ahlfed, Roger H. Page, and George F. Pinder

The Point

I am very interested in the most important resource we have: water. Energy, food, and economic growth all depend on a steady supply of clean water. Many of our water sources are unusable due to many types of contamination, all needing a different solution. The best thing is to keep the water clean in the first place. However, the clean up or remediation of water is now just as important. New techniques of remediation mean clean water in areas that are very polluted. Remediation is rapidly becoming a very important part of groundwater management. I will be exploring current and new technologies in remediation and what they mean for the future.