Welcome!

This is an attempt to bring forth various aspects of what I think is a field with wide ranging implications.  This field is wastewater treatment and its multidisciplinary approach to making a “problem” into a solution.  Not many people think about what happens after they push the lever and see their excreta swirling (if they stick around that long) around and finally go down the plumbing system. Ok, you are not one of them, but there are those that do look back to see their creations.

Enough of potty jokes.  Wastewater treatment is serious business even though no one wants it in their backyard.  The fact of the matter is, seriously, water is a precious commodity.  If you think about it, the water that you drink was pissed and pooped into by dinosaurs.  This blog will be, just like wastewater treatment, multidisciplinary.  Various sciences are involved in wastewater treatment, engineering, microbiology, ecology, biology, physics, and believe it or not ethics!  Enjoy the trip.

 

Anno Novo!

4 January 09

It is a new year and hoping that current expectations are met.  Have several workshops that not only will I be attending I will also be a presenter.  Trying to hone out some skills, make my presentations a bit better.  These are most definitely not New Year’s resolutions.  Never made them and not about to start.

First things first though, I do have to complete some PowerPoint presenations, put them in order, and have the presentations printed as a workshop manual.  I will have to have it done before the end of this week for the Microscopy Workshop at Eastern Municipal Water District at Perris, CA 5-6 Feb 08.  Have a few slots open so either make a comment, send me an e-mail, or phone me!

 

28 February 2009

I find myself at this point in time trying to determine how to best approach several projects and not just ruminate/contemplate/cogitate on how to, when to, and why.  Why, should not even be pondered since these are projects have been deemed to be essential to several promises.  I am trying to update several PowerPoint presentation for the upcoming Aquatic Microscopy Workshop to be held in Port Angeles, WA March 2009 and CWEA’s (California Water Environment Association) annual conference to be held in Palm Springs during last week in April 2009.  One of the reasons why I’ve put it off is because of parental obligations.  Yes, I’ve had to assist in the annual ritual associated with the “Science Project” at the elementary and middle school level.  One of the two projects was directed at making paper from various plant materials: agave, palm fronds, papyrus, leaves, and grass.  Yes, trying to emulate what our ancestors did but in an efficient and ecological manner.  The other science project was trying to determine where in the home was the most likely place to get a dose of bugs.  Various locations, and specifically, instruments or items likely to be touched by the human hand, were tested to determine where the highest concentration of bacteria would be likely found.  Telephone, computer keyboard, toilet handle, faucet handle, door knob…  Well, I am proud to say that one of the Science Projects got first place and the project and child will be going to District finals.

Yes, the projects can take a bit of your time trying to direct the child to not only understand the concept of the test but trying to integrate the information in a format they can understand.  In much the same manner and approach, the PowerPoint presentations directed at the two upcoming obligations must be formated in a way that you do not isolate a part of your audience.  The attendees differ in degrees of education: From just a high school education to a master’s degree.  Try not to make it too simple that you loose a part of your students but not too complicated that you loose another part of your attendees.  Yes, it is a juggling act.  Nevertheless, at times it can be humbling and it can take you to task.  You must exercise that gray matter within the cranium!