Monday, September 13, 2010

Grades 6-8 Water Quality: The Impact of Pathogens, Particles and Pollutants

In the U.S., we are fortunate to have at our disposal advanced technology to purify water for drinking. The same cannot be said for the developing world where limited access to clean and pure water is a significant problem. That does not mean problems don't exist in the U.S., they just pale in comparison to those found elsewhere.

Dr. John J. Lenhart, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at The Ohio State University, will discuss issues currently facing environmental scientists and engineers as they work to ensure our water is safe to drink. He will provide examples illustrating problems currently being faced in the U.S. and abroad regarding:

* pathogenic microorganisms that are often found in water
* the risk posed by the potential introduction of "nanoparticles" into the environment
* trace pollutants that are not easily removed by common treatment processes

Students should have a basic understanding of chemistry as well as the hydrologic cycle and are asked to prepare questions in advance, based upon an informational packet sent to the teacher.

$165
12/15/10
1:00 - 2:00