12-727 Characterizing
and Analyzing Environmental
Samples and Systems
Course Objective and Organization:
This course will familiarize students
with a variety of laboratory protocols for the analysis of water, wastewater,
and soil used in scientific research. The goals of this course are to:
- Introduce students to the principles of environmental sampling and
sample analysis.
- Provide familiarity and hands on experience with analytical tools used
in environmental engineering research and practice.
- Prepare students to write technical papers/reports and make technical
presentations.
- Emphasis is on understanding the theory behind the techniques; rather
than simply performing the analyses.
- Procedures covered will include physical, chemical, and
microbiological analyses. The basic elements of a research
article/engineering report will be presented.
During the semester students will:
- Learn and practice the principles of site and sample characterization
through hands on experience with real site samples (soil, water, air,
sediment) or through case studies.
- Develop sampling plans, collect, and analyze samples for organics,
metals, etc.
- Learn the specific components of technical writing (abstract,
introduction, materials and methods, etc.), and prepare a research paper
or technical report on the system investigated during the course.
- Prepare and give a lecture on a specific sampling or sample analysis
topic that is relevant to your graduate research or potential career path.
- Prepare and present a 20-minute technical talk and/or poster of the
results.
The course content is organized into
several laboratory experiences, each of which is presented in a one to two week
instructional block covering the theory behind a specific analytical technique
and an experiment/laboratory employing that technique. Each student will take
the lead in designing and instructing the class how to conduct one of the
laboratory exercises. During each lab, students will work in teams to complete
the requirements of that exercise, which is typically a written report. The
student leading the exercise need not submit a report, but will instead submit
a document describing the exercise.
Greg Lowry Home | Dept. Civil & Env.
Engr.