This project introduces undergraduate civil engineering majors to the new and exciting field of environmental geotechnics. A new undergraduate course is being introduced at Purdue University. using state-of-the-art laboratory equipment. The course is a combined instructional/laboratory course that provides the students with an understanding of all aspects of hazardous waste site assessment and instrumentation from the discovery that a hazardous waste site exists through to establishing safety and management strategies and culminating in an extensive evaluation of scientific equipment for assessing the type and extent of contamination in the air, soil and water. An integral component of the course is the weekly laboratory sessions where the students will become familiar with the operation of a range of different modern scientific devices which are used to monitor and assess surface and subsurface conditions. The development plan also incorporates preparation of video instructional materials and is linked to future research experiences for undergraduates.
