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Cincinnati Federal Environmental Chapter

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FY 2008-2009 Meetings and Activites

This year we had a number of exciting events bringing together our membership. They included:

Dinner Meetings

Winter meeting at the Cincinnati Zoo and Bootanical Garden. Featured speaker was Dr. Jon Cicmanek, a veterinarian and docent from the Cincinnati Zoo. Dr. Cicmanek presented the interesting history of the zoo.
Holiday meeting on December 4 held jointly with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The featured speaker was Dr. David Meyer, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the U.S. EPA in ORD. Dr. Meyer spoke about life cycle studies of nanomaterials.

Science Fair

The Cincinnati Federal Environmental Chapter of Sigma Xi and the Ohio Valley Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry jointly contributed $175 in prize money ($100, $50, and $25) to the top three students in the categories of Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, chosen by the Chapters’ members who volunteered to judge.

First prize: Courtney Fasola of St Columbian Elementary, for a project on rooftop gardening.

Second prize: Akaska Mishra from Mt Notre Dame High School on a project related to global warming.

Third prize: Stephan Eagles of St. Columbian Elementary for a project on home insulation materials.

Judging at the fair is not an easy task, with many exceptional projects; however, it is quite rewarding to see such enthusiasm from students present. Volunteer judges from the chapter included Barb Butler, Brian Dyson, Dan Petersen, Doug Grosse, Michelle Simon, Mike Schock, and Sue Schock.

Winter Coffee/Lecture Hour

This was a mid-afternoon seminar held at the AWBERC EPA Facility. After a brief business meeting, our guest speaker, Dr. Verle Hansen of the Land Remediation & Pollution Control Division in NRMRL, presented a well-received discussion of “Selling Sustainability to the EPA”

Aaron Rosen Memorial Lecture Spring Coffee/Lecture

Dr. Gordon Evans of the U.S. EPA ORD NRMRL Sustainable Technology Division presented a seminar to present the challenges faced by the EPA to integrate research and development with socio-economic sustainability – a subject that is at the heart of a number of recent national foresight studies. The seminar was well received.

Earth Week Sponsored Speaker

This year’s speaker was the owner/operator of a local Cincinnati store called “Park & Vine” that specializes in eco-friendly merchandise that minimizes the use of natural resources and animal byproducts.

Postdoc Social

In collaboration with the Ohio Valley AIChE, postdoctoral scientists were provided an opportunity to network and enjoy a social evening while learning about Sigma Xi and the opportunities to become involved in the National Society and the local chapter.

New Members

Two new members were initiated during the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year: Dr. Michelle Simon and Dr. Barbara Butler. Dr. Simon is a Chemical Engineer in the U.S. EPA ORD Land Remediation & Pollution Control Division of the National Risk Management Research Laboratory. Dr. Butler is a Federal Postdoctoral Fellow Physical Scientist, also in LRPCD.

New Executive Officers

The June 2009 elections resulted in the new executive officers being Douglas Grosse as chapter president; Dan Petersen as vice-president; and Barbara Butler as secretary-treasurer. Sue Schock (our past-president) moves to our senior advisor position and was awarded a well-deserved certificate of appreciation.

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