9452477 Olson A laboratory improvement program has been proposed to integrate and modernize the laboratory components of three environmental engineering courses: "Environmental Chemistry for Environmental Engineering", "Physical-Chemical Processes", and "Microbial Processes". The project will involve the development of three new pairs of laboratory exercises that will help to reinforce key topics between the classes. In addition, the new exercises will illustrate the fundamental relationships between chemical and microbial systems, provide the opportunity to analyze more realistic complex samples, and expose engineering students to modern instruments in gas chromatography and spectrophotometry that they currently do not have access to. Among the equipment items requested, the two major instruments include a gas chromatograph and a scanning spectrophotometer. A few additional equipment pieces that support the new types of proposed exercises are also requested. By the fall of 1994, the program will acquire new dedicated wet-laboratory space for undergraduate environmental engineering instruction. This laboratory will be used primarily by undergraduate majors in Environmental Engineering, a brand new baccalaureate program, and by Civil Engineering majors who specialize in environmental engineering. The current enrollments in each of the three classes are in the range of 35 to 55. While some State of California funds are available to equip this new laboratory, the amount available falls short of what is needed to significantly modernize the facilities. The requested equipment will greatly improve our ability, therefore, to provide an exceptional laboratory experience for this new degree program.
