Program Overview (Pilot)
Day 1 (overall concept is the importance of understanding the context of bioscience applications)
Taking action – active environmental management
The interaction between the environment and humans – food, water, waste
Nutrient Cycling – soil, rain, rivers, sea
Water quality – visible and invisible solutes
Day 2 (overall concept is that bioscience relies on samples as representative of the real world)
Sampling plans – identify cycles and sources, representative sampling, determine frequency
Collecting samples – containers, volume, integrity, labeling, preservation
Day 3 (overall concept is the application of reference to all measurements)
Standards – controls, calibration, unknowns
Equipment – care and handling, operation
Day 4 (overall concept is choosing the best analytical technique)
Analyses – microbial contaminants, techniques
Sensitivity and selectivity
Day 5 (overall concept is the application of bioscience to solve problems)
Remediation – treatment options, effectiveness
Day One
Learning outcomes: 1) find a career in bioscience
2) demonstrate human influence on the environment
3) measure changes in nutrient cycles
4) identify visible and invisible solutes
8:30 – 10:00 AM Welcome and Introductions
Bioscience, health and careers (www.biotech-careers.org)
Lab: Select a career and submit its educational requirements, salary range, and typical day description (computer lab)
10:00 – 10:15 AM Break
10:15 – 11:45 AM Taking action – active environmental management by recognizing human contributions
Lab: breathing CO2 into water (measure CO2 levels in water)
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Lunch (sponsor?)
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM Leaching through various surfaces and profiles
Lab: run water across concrete, grassy surface and through sand (measure pH and contaminant levels)
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Microbial and chemical contaminants in water
Lab: Identification of microbes in slide-mounted aquariums (measure BOD and COD in water samples)
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Lab meeting – discuss the day’s lab results and strategies for tomorrow.
Emphasis on the overall concept of how this lab fits into the context of its bioscience application
Day Two
Learning outcomes: 1) examine parameters for testing through sampling
2) draw scaled maps and identify sample locations
3) collect data in-field
4) transport and store samples
8:30 – 10:00 AM Sampling plans (on-site visit) Identify cycles, sources, representative sampling and determine frequency
Lab: evaluate site parameters (site mapping)
10:00 – 10:15 AM In-route to site
10:15 – 11:45 AM In-field measurements
Lab: measuring sample temperature, pH and turbidity
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Lunch (sponsor?)
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM Collect samples and field blanks
Lab: locate sample collection sites on map, record in-field data, and label samples and secure for transport
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Return samples to the lab
Lab: log-in of samples (storage, sample integrity, buffering)
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Lab meeting – discuss the day’s lab results and strategies for tomorrow.
Emphasis on the overall concept that bioscience relies on samples as representative of the real world
Day Three
Learning outcomes: 1) measure standards and establish calibrations
2) apply calibrations to determine unknowns
3) utilize separation and identification instruments
4) maintain analytical equipment
8:30 – 10:00 AM Use of standards in making measurements
Lab: make serial dilutions from stock solutions, measure and establish calibration curves
10:00 – 10:15 AM Break
10:15 – 11:45 AM Taking measurements of unknowns and identifying outliers
Lab: measure unknowns and identify analytical limitations
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Lunch (sponsor?)
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM Analytical instrumentation and sample prep
Lab: apply equipment management requirements
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Identify equipment malfunctions and determine repairs
Lab: analyze samples with equipment which is failing to function properly
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Lab meeting – discuss the day’s lab results and strategies for tomorrow.
Emphasis on the overall concept that the application of references and standards must be made to all measurements
Day Four
Learning outcomes: 1) identify and quantify microbial contaminants
2) utilize multiple techniques for cross validation
3) establish technique sensitivity and selectivity
4) find confidence intervals for measurements
8:30 – 10:00 AM Handling, identification and quantification of microbial contaminants
Lab: examine contaminated samples to identify and quantify microbial contaminants
10:00 – 10:15 AM Break
10:15 – 11:45 AM Building confidence in results through cross validation
Lab: microbial detection using chips, microscopy and culture
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Lunch (sponsor?)
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM Technique sensitivity and selectivity
Lab: compare microbial contaminants via chips, microscopy and PCR
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Determining confidence intervals
Lab: examine serial dilutions with varying degrees of distribution to determine discrimination capacities
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Lab meeting – discuss the day’s lab results and strategies for tomorrow.
Emphasis on the overall concept of choosing the best analytical technique for the situation
Day Five
Learning outcomes: 1) determine necessity for remediation
2) explore treatment options
3) implement remediation technique
4) perform risk assessment
8:30 – 10:00 AM Identify contaminant sources and necessities for remediation
Lab: examine and follow contamination routes from positive sampling locations to potential sources
10:00 – 10:15 AM Break
10:15 – 11:45 AM Review and select treatment options for the contaminant identified
Lab: select treatment option and design an implementation plan for the site
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Lunch (sponsor?)
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM Remediation implementation and retesting for effectiveness
Lab: apply treatment to contaminant model and assess its effectiveness
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Examination of treatment options and comparative effectiveness
Lab: complete an alternative remediation treatment and compare its effectiveness
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Session wrap-up – graduation and issuance of certificates
Emphasis on the overall concept that bioscience can be applied to solve problems
Labs
Day One
1) computer lab www.biotech-careers.org
2) measure CO2 levels carbon dioxide lamotte kit
3) measure pH and sodium levels USGS handbook salinity instrumentation
4) microscopy, measure BOD and COD microscopes BOD and COD theory instrumentation
Day Two
1) evaluate site parameters (site mapping) portable drafting tools water quality WHO guidelines
2) measuring sample temperature, pH and turbidity test kit option 1 test kit option 2 classroom support
3) locate sample collection sites on map, record in-field data, and label samples and secure for transport sampling requirements sampling instruction containers sampling directions WHO guidelines
4) log-in of samples (storage, sample integrity, buffering) sample labels sampling records
Day Three
1) make serial dilutions from stock solutions, measure and establish calibration curves dilutions microbial dilution calibration curve (can use turbidity standards (at the bottom here))
2) measure unknowns and identify analytical limitations (can use food coloring or spectrophotometer or turbidity (turbidity))
3) apply equipment management requirements (protocol principles, WHO guidebook)
4) analyze samples with equipment which is failing to function properly (pH meter out of calibration or bad electrode or electrical outlet with circuit tripped)
Day Four
1) examine contaminated samples to identify and quantify microbial contaminants (kits below)
2) microbial detection using chips, microscopy and culture micro testing kit coliform chips
3) compare microbial contaminants via chips, microscopy and PCR PCR contaminant verification
4) examine serial dilutions with varying degrees of distribution to determine discrimination capacities (again, turbidity works well as there is a easily discernable limit to its units and difficulty distinguishing one from the next)
Day Five
1) examine and follow contamination routes from positive sampling locations to potential sources waste source id or unique toxics
2) select treatment option and design an implementation plan for the site EPA options WHO options
3) apply treatment to contaminant model and assess its effectiveness (flow samples through gravel or sand, test before and after, results are usually surprising)
4) complete an alternative remediation treatment and compare its effectiveness (add organic matter into the flow through treatment and examine changes to pH or turbidity)