CONTAMINANTS IN WATER

January 25, 2017, 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

NJIT Campus Center Ballroom A

MODERATOR:

Michel C Boufadel, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Director, Center for Natural Resources

Contamination in various water bodies in New Jersey and elsewhere in the nation is a major threat to public health and the ecosystem. Most of this contamination is attributable to the lack of knowledge and poor environmental practices prevalent during a good part of the 20th century. But so-called “emerging contaminants,” among them pharmaceuticals and personal-care products, today present a new and very significant concern. Because most of these compounds are not covered by regulations, safe concentrations in water have yet to be determined.

For the first Technology and Society Forum presentation of 2017, a panel of prominent experts shared their first-hand experience working at contaminated sites using state-of-the-art characterization and remediation technology. They also addressed the challenges of emerging contaminants and developing strategies for sustainable removal.

Professor Lisa Axe chairs NJIT’s Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering. A key focus of her research is understanding emerging contaminants and contaminant mobility and bioavailability. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and major firms such as Suez and Chemours (Dupont).

Distinguished Professor Lee Slater, Rutgers University—Newark, is internationally recognized for applying geophysical methods to hydrogeological problems. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, his recent work has focused on high-resolution geophysical imaging to improve remediation efforts targeting chlorinated solvents. His service to the geophysical community includes chairing the Near Surface Geophysics Focus Group of the American Geophysical Union.

Professor Jay Meegoda, a member of NJIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has worked with state and local governments in the U.S. as well as foreign governments to apply innovative science to real-world environmental problems. He has received substantial funding from groups that include the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

NJIT welcomed attendees from all area colleges, universities, and professions. This public forum qualified attendees for Professional Development Hours.

Sponsors:

Albert Dorman Honors College
John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Otto H. York Dept of Chem and Material Engineering,
Dept of Chemistry and Env Science,
Sigma Xi NJIT Chapter, and NJIT ASCE Chapter.