News of 2006

 

December 13, 2006

 

December 19, 2006 (Tuesday) 10:00 AM -11:30 AM (Eastern Time) --"Sustainability Issues Related to Wetlands: Natural and Constructed."  We will concentrate on Sustainability aspects of preserving wetlands, choosing alternatives for restoring the valuable functions that wetlands serve, constructed wetlands and choosing wetlands for treatment of wastes, species restoration and/or Brownfields restoration. 

 

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November 18, 2006

 

The Eighth SEF Virtual Meeting of 2006

 

November 21, 2006 (Tuesday) 10:00 AM -11:30 AM (Eastern Time) -- "Genomics: - A Cellulosic Route to Biofuels."  We will concentrate on Sustainability aspects of genetic modification to produce more value in products and energy from biofuels.

 

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October 9, 2006

 

SEF Virtual Meeting on Fats, Oils and Grease

 

October 10, 2006 (Tuesday) 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (Eastern Time) – Sequel to "Sustainability issues related to fats, oil and grease."  Materials have been posted.

 

Carbonees may still register by E-mail message to Dr. Beaver at Erbeav@aol.com or Inst4Sust@sbcglobal.net.

 

 

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August 18, 2006

 

Posted the final outcome of the poll of desired SEF Virtual Meeting Topics.  Dr. Beaver appreciates all the responses.  Our next topics will be selected based on your input.  It will take a while for Dr. Beaver to prepare the appropriate materials.

 

 

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August 6, 2006

 

SEF Virtual Meetings in August

 

August 24, 2006 (Thursday) 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (Eastern Time) -- "Sustainability issues related to fats, oil and grease."  Background information has been posted.  Note-takers are needed for this meeting; please volunteer.  The call-in number is 513-569-7897, conferee code is 2484#. 

 

Some content may change, but since the rendering industry [they call themselves "the Original Recyclers"] is quite unknown to most of us, it is especially important in this case.  Further, Dr. Beaver have invited two speakers, neither has confirmed yet.  One is from Virginia Beach environmental authorities monitoring Fats, Oils and Grease in the Lynnhaven River; the other is from Darling International.

 

 

 

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August 2, 2006

 

“Sources and Suggested Reading on Sustainability” by Dr. Beaver has been updated.

 

 

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August 1, 2006

 

Vote on Virtual Meeting Topics

 

To Members and Friends of the Sustainable Engineering Forum: please vote on topics for the remainder of the year.  Please indicate your first, second and third choices for future SEF Meeting Topics by placing a "1" a "2" or a "3" by those choices and replying to Dr Beaver by E-mail.  You may cut, paste and reply or simply write the first few words of a topic and your vote in an otherwise blank message with subject "SEF Vote."

Dr Beaver will tally the results and let you know.  If you wish to offer other selections, please let Dr Beaver know and he will include them in the next poll.

 

Choices:

 

·        Design of Sustainable Laboratories

·        Coal Bed Methane and Associated Water

·        Sustainability and Environmental Implications of War

·        Genomics: GTL Program - A Cellulosic Route to Biofuels

·        Oceans: Impacts of freshwater pollutants entering with rivers & runoff, cruise lines & shipping

·        Sustainability issues in Confined Animal Feeding, e.g., Mad Cow Disease, waste runoff

·        Sustainability issues related to Wetlands: natural and constructed

·        Invasive Species

 

 

 

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July 24, 2006

 

SEF Virtual Meetings in July

 

This is an announcement of the upcoming next two SEF Virtual Meetings.

 

July 27, 2006 (Thursday) 10:00 AM -11:30 AM (Eastern Time) -- "Lessons Learned from Industrial Disasters; an Indication of Need for Change."  An agenda and discussion points will be provided Tuesday.

 

The call-in number is 513-569-7897, conferee code 2484#.  RSVP; Dr. Beaver will send more information to registrants.  Note-takers are needed; please volunteer.

 

 

 

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June 30, 2006

 

Reading materials for sustainability compiled by Dr. Beaver has been posted in Newsletter part.

 

 

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June 23, 2006

 

"Environmental Division Virtual Meeting" on Electronic Waste (July 6)

 

As an SEF member or friend of SEF, you are invited to participate in an Environmental Division Virtual Meeting on Electronic Waste, which Ray Smith of USEPA is conducting.

 

We have two speakers, Wayne Rifer, of the Green Electronics Council, and Laura Yates, of St. Louis County Health Department and Regional Coordinator for E-Cycle St. Louis, who will speak on the subject of e-Waste.  If you wish to contribute material or agree to make some limited remarks, contact Ray.  He will be available at 513-569-7161 or by email before the meeting.  A final agenda and pre-meeting materials will be sent by June 26 for the virtual meeting which will occur on Thursday, July 6, 4:00 - 5:30 PM (Eastern Time).  A reminder will also be sent on July 5.  (Ray will be out of the office from June 26 to July 4; in his absence, copy Dr. Beaver on correspondence and will answer urgent requests.)

 

RSVP to Ray via email at smith.raymond@epa.gov or to Dr Beaver at Erbeav@aol.com to reserve a line for the virtual meeting.  The call-in number is 513-569-7897, conferee code is 3406#.  Groups of students are welcome. 

 

Note-takers are needed for this meeting; please volunteer.

 

 

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May 21, 2006

 

SEF Virtual Meetings in June

 

June 1, 2006 (Thursday) 10:00 AM -11:30 AM (Eastern Time) -- "Dealing with the media on Sustainability"  An agenda and discussion points will be provided later, but speakers/presenters from public relations, academia and industry will be asked to provide background.  Register by May 24; after that date, participation will be opened to a broader distribution.  The call-in number is 513-569-7897, conferee code 2484#.  RSVP by E-mail; Dr. Beaver will send more information to registrants on or about May 26.  Note-takers are needed; please volunteer.

 

June 22, 2006 (Thursday) 10:00 AM -11:30 AM (Eastern Time) -- "Direct landfill disposal of municipal waste vs. energy recovery followed by ash disposal" Note-takers are needed for this meeting as well; please volunteer.  The call-in number is 513-569-7897, conferee code is 2484#.  Any questions?  Just E-mail Dr. Beaver at Erbeav@aol.com. 

 

You may register for either or both meetings by sending a reply.  Also, note that the AIChE Environmental Division has started Virtual Meetings as well.  Their first meeting topic was "Environmental Management Systems;" the next one will occur on July 13 on the topic of  "Electronic Waste."  Division members will be invited first, SEF members will be invited on a space-available basis.

 

 

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April 12, 2006

 

Information about “XXII Congreso Interamericano de Ingeniería Química y V Congreso Argentino de Ingeniería Química has been posted in Conference part. 

 

 

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April 4, 2006

 

“Sources and Suggested Reading for Global Climate Change and Sustainability” has been posted in Newsletter part.

 

 

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March 10, 2006

 

The Third SEF Virtual Meeting of 2006

 

The Third SEF Virtual Meeting of 2006 now has 28 registered participants [some are sharing phone lines].  The meeting may be recorded for a repeat discussion based in Singapore.  Detailed information (topic, time, agenda, etc.) about this meeting can be found in workshops part.

 

 

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March 9, 2006

 

“Sources and Suggested Reading on Sustainability” has been posted in Newsletter part.

 

 

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March 6, 2006

 

SEF Virtual Meeting

 

This is a reminder of the upcoming SEF Virtual Meeting.  We have one speaker.  If you wish to contribute material or agree to make some limited remarks, please contact Dr. Beaver.  A final agenda and pre-meeting materials will be posted by March 10.

 

March 16, 2006 (Thursday) 1:00 PM –2:30 PM (Eastern Time) –“Impacts of cultural and national differences on global sustainability.”  Note-takers are needed for this meeting, please volunteer.

The call-in number is 513-569-7897, conferee code is 2484#.

 

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February 5, 2006

 

The First SEF Virtual Meeting of 2006

 

The First SEF Virtual Meeting of 2006 now has 30 registered participants [some are sharing phone lines].  The meeting may be recorded for a repeat discussion based in Singapore.  In addition, Dr. Beaver has added discussion of asphalt [in particular rubberized asphalt].  Detailed information (topic, time, agenda, etc.) about this meeting can be found in workshops part. 

 

 

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February 5, 2006

 

Poll of SEF Virtual Meeting Topics

 

The poll of SEF members on Virtual Meeting Topics for 2006 is now complete (more than 50 members voted - thank you).  The results and suggestions have been shown in “Poll Results of SEF Virtual Meeting Topics.pdf”.

 

 

 

News of 2005

 

 

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December 7, 2005

 

The Tenth 2005 SEF Virtual Meeting (December 20, 2005)

 

This is a notice for the Tenth 2005 SEF Virtual Meeting (a Special Topical Meeting on Freshwater).  The original two Freshwater meetings included 38 participants and were held August 18 and October 24.  As has happened before, we did not complete in-depth discussion of all the points; the group requested at least one separate meeting to "flesh-out" items of special interest to be determined by ballot.  Eleven people returned ballots and I used "facilitator discretion" to combine requests.  The meeting will be recorded for a repeat discussion based in Singapore.  Detailed information (topic, time, agenda, etc.) about this meeting can be found here.

 

 

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October 7, 2005

 

Dr. Earl R. Beaver’s presentation at the "Engineers for a Sustainable World" conference has been posted here. 

 

 

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October 4, 2005

 

This is a notice for the Eighth 2005 SEF Virtual Meeting (a Sequel on Freshwater).  The original meeting included 27 participants and was held August 18.  As has happened before, we did not complete all of the discussion points and the group requested a sequel to complete the agenda and discussion.  The meeting will be recorded for a repeat discussion based in Singapore.  Detailed information (topic, time, agenda, etc.) about this meeting can be found here.

 

 

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September 27, 2005

 

SEF & U.S. Climate Change Technology Program

 

The US Department of Energy released for public review the administrations' plan "for accelerating the development and reducing the cost of new technologies that avoid, reduce, or capture and store greenhouse gas emissions." The technologies, if successful, "will be used and deployed among the United States' partners in the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development that was announced earlier this year."

The US Climate Change Technology Program's (CCTP) draft Strategic Plan, if adopted, would provide about $3 billion in federal spending for climate change-related technology research, development, demonstration, and deployment.  The draft plan sets six complementary goals: (1) reducing emissions from energy use and infrastructure; (2) reducing emissions from energy supply; (3) capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide; (4) reducing emissions of other greenhouse gases; (5) measuring and monitoring emissions; and (6) bolstering the contributions of basic science to climate change.

To view or download the CCTP draft Strategic Plan, visit http://www.climatetechnology.gov.  CCTP will discuss the plan with stakeholders at a series of workshops during the coming months.  The public comment period will close on Nov. 2, 2005.  The completed plan is expected in 2006.

If you would like to have an SEF Virtual Meeting or subgroup meeting on the topic, please contact Dr. Beaver at Erbeav@aol.com.  Dr. Beaver will arrange for speakers/presenters.

 

 

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September 21, 2005

 

The Seventh 2005 SEF Virtual Meeting (September 22, 2005)

 

This is a notice for the Seventh 2005 SEF Virtual Meeting.  The time and day of the week has been adjusted to allow for easier access by European SEF members and those who cannot participate on our historical day of the week and time.  The meeting will be recorded for a repeat discussion based in Singapore.  Detailed information (topic, time, agenda, etc.) about this meeting can be found here.

 

Webmaster

 

SEF welcomes our new webmaster, Jie Xiao.  Mr. Xiao is a Ph. D student supervised by one of SEF’s executive committee members, Prof. Yinlun Huang, in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Wayne State University.  Contact Information

 

 

 

News before September 21, 2005.