21
EEES, Clemson University
28
Clemson University
4
Black & Veatch
11
ERM
18
Clemson University
25
Clemson University
2
Auburn University
9
West Chester University
16
University of Washington
23
Rutgers University
30
EEES, Clemson University
6
US EPA
13
EEES, Clemson University
20
Purdue University
Ph.D. candidate Shannon Thompson and Dr. Fred Molz have been performing plutonium uptake experiments on corn grown at the Rich Laboratory. The experiments are showing that the plant water uptake system, which supplies water for transpiration and plant growth, can result in the rapid transfer of plutonium from the soil to the plant tops. When plants are cut or die naturally, such plutonium may be deposited on the soil surface. This is of potential concern, because small amounts of ingested or inhaled radioactive plutonium can be dangerous. Given the chemical nature of ionic plutonium, this rapid transfer was unexpected, and it may due to the corn mistaking plutonium for iron, a mineral necessary for plant growth. Many plants, particularly grasses, have evolved a specialized chemical transport system for obtaining iron from soil. Since iron is similar in a molecular sense to plutonium, plants may absorb plutonium by mistake when it is present in soil due to radioactive accidents or waste disposal.
Chris Patterson and Catherine Ruprecht (left) perform a test on the 18 Mile Creek in Pendleton Thursday, June 18, 2009. 
Sixteen students from across the county came to participate in the Clemson University Hydrogeology Field Camp that lasts 5 weeks and provides hands-on activities for graduate and undergraduate students.This summer Amy Hixon worked as a Student Scientist at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Rockville, MD. Amy worked with the Environmental Review Branch to develop knowledge management resources and update existing guidance documents related to the National Environmental Policy Act. Amy is pursuing her Ph.D. with Dr. Brian Powell as her advisor.
On May 4, 2009, ten Clemson engineering students traveled to El Salvador for their second Engineers without Borders (EWB-USA) site assessment and work trip. Led by EEES grad student, Jim Chamberlain, the student group surveyed field elevations for a future water line, evaluated a home wood stove design, repaired a Hydram water pump, collected GPS points for a comprehensive agricultural map, analyzed water quality samples, and helped build foundations for block village houses. The group continues to help design a new water distribution system, with the help of Sam Sarkar, an EEES Masters student. Dr. Mark Schlautman is a co-advisor of the EWB-USA chapter and Jose Alfaro will be working with the group in the coming year on this and other international sustainability projects.
Dr. Brian Powell organized a symposium titled “Recent Advances and Future Directions in Modern Nuclear Science: Graduate Student Research” at the 238th American Chemical Society Meeting in Washington, D.C. Additional presentations by EEES students and faculty within other symposia at the ACS meeting were:
Nuclear Environmental Engineering and Science at Clemson University” by Dr. Brian Powell, Dr. Tim DeVol, and Dr. Robert Fjeld. This presentation highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of the Nuclear Environmental Engineering and Science program within EEES.
Plutonium transport in Savannah River Site (SRS) Soil: Apparent importance of biochemistry” by Dr. Deniz I. Demirkanli, Dr. Fred Molz III, Shannon Thompson, Dr. Robert Fjeld, Dr. Daniel I. Kaplan and Dr. Brian Powell.
Structural characterization of plutonium colloids associated with goethite and silica” by Dr. Brian Powell with collaborators from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Zurong Dai, Annie Kersting, and Mavrik Zavarin.
Development of an On-line Radiation Detection and Measurements Laboratory Course” which was funded by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Education Grant. Dr. Tim DeVol and Dr. Brian Powell.
"Application of Classical and Bayesian Statistical Methods to On-Line Radiological Monitoring Date”. Dr. Tim DeVol, and Gohres, A.A.
Comparing Predicted Cancer Risks Associated with Ingesting Naturally Occurring Radionuclides in Drinking Water Supplies to Actual County Cancer Rates”.
Dr. Deborah Falta, Dr. Tim DeVol and Dr. Robert Fjeld, presented at the Health Physics Society annual meeting Minneapolis, MN July 12-16, 2009 Characterization and Application of Superlig® 620 Solid Phase Extraction Resin For automated Process Monitoring. O'Hara, M.J., Egorov, O.B., Grate, J.W., DeVol, T.A., Clements, J.P.,
Arika Bridhikitti presented the following platform papers:
Arika Bridhikitti, and Dr. Tom Overcamp, "Comparison of MODIS Aerosol Products and AERONET and Their Dependences on Land Surface Brightness and Aerosol Type: The Study in Southeast Asia," Annual Meeting of the Air & Waste Management Association, Detroit, MI, June 16-19, 2009.
Arika Bridhikitti and Dr. Tom Overcamp, "Understanding Optical Characteristics of the Southeast Asia's Regional Aerosol," Annual Meeting of the Air & Waste Management Association, Detroit, MI, June 16-19, 2009. Arika also gave a student poster entitled: "Observing the Long-Range Transport of Chinese Urban Aerosol to Southeast Asia Mainland".
Jim Chamberlain presented a paper at the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) conference in Austin, Texas, on June 15. The title of his presentation was "Forming a Culture of Engineering: Undergraduate Research Projects in a Developing Country".
Presentations were given at the Methods and Applications of Radioanalytical Chemistry (MARC VIII) Conference in Kona, HI on Tuesday April 7, 2009. They include:
Plutonium uptake velocity in Zea mays (corn) and implications for plant uptake in the root zone-Shannon Thompson, Dr. Fred Molz, Dr. Robert Fjeld, and D. I. Kaplan.
Proportional counting of tritium gas generated by polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis- Aurelie Soreefan and Dr. Tim Devol.
Pertechnetate Selective Scintillating Ion-Exchange Resins Prepared by ATRP for On-Line Water Monitoring Ayman Seliman, A. Samadi, S.M. Husson, E.H. Borai, Dr. Tim DeVol .
Plutonium Transport in Plants: Experimental Determination of Transport Velocity in Live Plants and Sorption to Plant Xylem," Shannon Thompson, Dr. Robert Fjeld, Dr. Fred Molz, Dr. Dan Kaplan was presented at the Health Physics Society annual meeting Minneapolis, MN July 12-16, 2009
Todd Miller gave a presentation at the 238th American Chemical Society Meeting in Washington, D.C. titled "Determination of Subsurface Transport Parameters of Neptunium in Southeastern U.S. Soils" which was coauthored with Amy Hixon and Dr. Brian Powell.
Richard Edwards (ESE PhD '74) Director of Pfizer's Waste and Wastewater Networks has worked for Pfizer for 31 years, but has recently begun a 6 month Fellowship in Pfizer's Global Health Fellows program. Richard is supporting the Water Aid Uganda program as a Senior Wastewater Advisor doing a number of different things. Most notably, He is establishing a summary of best practices for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects that have already been completed. This is for future use. Also, if you wanted more on the Pfizer program and what Richard is doing, Pfizer has some materials, including some work done by Pfizer writers. You can also find a journal written by Richard at the Pfizer web site: http://globalhealthfellows.pfizer.com using logon id and password as richard and edwards, respectively.Claudia Gunsch (EE&S MS ’00) received the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award. She is currently an assistant professor at Duke University. Dr. David Freedman served as Claudia's advisor.
Stephen Graef (ESE PhD ’76) retired after 17 years with Renewable Water Resources ReWa, (formerly Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority) on January 17, 2009. During his retirement, he will serve as a part time special consultant to the Executive Director of ReWa, as well as providing some private consulting affiliations that do not conflict with ReWa. Dr. Graef was selected for the 2009 Stanley E. Kappe Award which is presented by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.