Core Update Archive
Core E: Training
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004
2009
Training activities during 2009 directed graduate students to explore environmental fate and transport data from hazardous waste sites. The context for the training was both the analysis of field data collected at hazardous waste disposal sites and the development of improved monitoring technology for the assessment of human exposure to environmental mercury. The 25 plus years of superfund remediation has generated a database of pre and post remediation monitoring that can be used to assess the field-scale transport of contaminants and the effectiveness of implemented remediation activities. Monitoring data from hazardous waste sites are extensive but not necessarily logically organized and not always in digital format or compatible with geospatial information. Thus, activities involved extensive analysis of data from a selected hazardous waste site at the Savannah River Site to quantify source terms, natural transport, and how remediation altered the migration of tracers and achieved contaminant recovery. An additional graduate student trainee continued to make advances on the development of isotopic mercury analysis for understanding the sources of mercury found in the food chain.
Other graduate students and postdoctoral researchers continue to participate in the NIEHS Superfund Basic Research Program Student and Postdoctoral network via the internet and at the annual meeting.
2008
Training activities during 2008 allowed entering graduate students to explore environmental fate and transport data from hazardous waste sites. This exploration provides to the trainees the context for environmental toxicology and risk assessment course work that is particularly useful in the training of remediation engineers. Monitoring data from hazardous waste sites is extensive but not necessarily logically organized and not always in digital format or compatible with geographic information systems. Thus, activities involved extensive analysis of data from a number of hazardous waste sites to identify those sites with well defined sources of contamination, data records that exceed ten years, and multiple monitoring wells. The chromate plumes from natural gas compressor stations in the desert of Southern California fulfilled these constrains and proved very valuable in training the students in data analysis and in comparing with their work on density driven salt migration in porous media.
Other graduate students and postdoctoral researchers continue to participate in the NIEHS Superfund Basic Research Program Student and Postdoctoral network via the internet and at the annual meeting.
2007
The Training Core has provided opportunities for interdisciplinary training, and provided a forum to students in the Superfund Annual Meeting and the graduate seminar course. Core meetings provided opportunities for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and new investigators to present this research in an abbreviated time span to an audience that included fellow trainees, investigators, public health officials, and governmental consultants.
Superfund research has matured to such an extent that specialization tends to be emphasized over integration to the detriment of training and translation. The Core researchers’ multi-pronged effort in training and translation is providing numerous opportunities for the participants to engage in multidisciplinary activities and develop an appreciation of the needs of the practicing profession as well as the specialized research community.
2006
The Training Core program has provided opportunities for interdisciplinary training through our May 2006 kickoff meeting for the start of this new program, and provided a forum to students in the Superfund Annual Meeting, and the upcoming graduate seminar course. The kickoff meeting provided opportunities for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and new investigators to present this research in an abbreviated time span to an audience that included fellow trainees, investigators, public health officials, and governmental consultants. The trainees demonstrated an ability to distill their research results into a short presentation that was understandable to the broad audience.
Superfund research has matured to such an extent that specialization tends to be emphasized over integration to the detriment of training and translation. The Core researchers’ multi-pronged effort in training and translation is providing numerous opportunities for the participants to engage in multidisciplinary activities and develop an appreciation of the needs of the practicing profession as well as the specialized research community.
The graduate seminar course will be taught to Superfund trainees in Spring Semester 2007 in a new format that maintains the successful approach devised by Amy Kyle and includes the participation of James Hunt to provide a non-biomedical perspective.
2005
Core E (Training Core) provides opportunities for interdisciplinary discussion and collaboration amongst SBRP-supported graduate students. These opportunities are in addition to the expectation that Superfund trainees pursue their research and engage in a core of courses that supplements their major field of study. In past years, students had been required to attend an interdisciplinary seminar on a current public health/environmental topic led by a nationally prominent scholar. This year, the core has asked the students to decide amongst themselves what sort of activities would enhance their experience as Superfund trainees. The aim of these meetings is to engage the students to explore common themes amongst their research projects and in the process be exposed to the multi-faceted nature of research related to basic and applied science of the Superfund program. Already, the students have engaged in open discussion about their research projects and toured a local SBRP site (Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA), led by Professor Jim Hunt, whose SBRP Project (#6) is providing a historical exposure assessment for this site. Next, they plan to organize a first-ever student session(s) at their SBRP Annual Conference (with platform presentation, discussants and posters), invite alumni of the UCB SBRP program to discuss how SBRP training has affected their careers and meet with local community-based environmental NGOs to learn their concerns regarding Superfund and other “toxic” sites in their neighborhoods. The students consistently report that participation in these sorts of activities and other interdisciplinary academic courses, particularly in collaboration with the core’s Toxic Substances Research and Training Program, have been a significant aspect of their traineeship. Many graduates continue collaborations and professional relationships that began in these seminars.
The research training core provided travel support to doctoral students to present their work at technical meetings and symposia as well as providing some travel support for data collection. The program initiated its work with another group of trainees, competitively evaluated by the steering committee.
2004
Superfund trainees are expected to pursue their research, engage in a core of courses that supplements their major field of study and participate in an interdisciplinary seminar. This year the seminar for Superfund Trainees was entitled “The Cutting Edge in Environmental Justice,” the course was taught by Michael Gelobter, PhD and Director of the NGO Redefining Progress. This course focused on “cutting edge” issues in environmental justice, and the status of policy initiatives to address the environmental needs of low-income communities and communities of color. Roughly one-third of the semester consisted of an overview of the history of the movement from a contemporary perspective (where has the movement come from? Where is it going?). This section reviewed some of the early research and policy advocacy that built the movement. The second third of the class looked at current policy debates in environmental justice, with a particular focus on 6 laws on the books in California. As part of this section, the course reviewed some of the contemporary EJ research on public health, sitting, and exposure, and how adequately policies are able to address these concerns. The final third of the semester focused on EJ issues not yet integrated into a policy frame, including the precautionary principle, climate change, and sustainable economic development. Core students report that participation in this and other interdisciplinary academic courses, particularly in collaboration with the Toxic Substances Research and Training Program, has been a significant aspect of their traineeship. Many graduates continue collaborations and professional relationships that began in these seminars.
The Research Training Core provided travel support to doctoral students to present their work at technical meetings and symposia as well as providing some travel support for data collection. The 2003-2004 trainees participated in a joint symposium with other Pacific coast superfund; their work was presented in a poster session. The program initiated its work with the second group of trainees, competitively evaluated by the steering committee.