Topic statement

Estalin Alvarez

APSC 176

Professor Eikenaar

June 9th, 2017

Topic statement

Introduction:

 Nowadays, we live in an industrialized world where most of the goods and products we consume generate pollutants during their production process. These contaminants, if not correctly treated and managed, usually end up as waste water, which is later poured into rivers or oceans, destroying this valuable resource that nature offers to the humankind. Engineers, who look for the people’s welfare, are constantly trying to find a solution to this problem, developing new technologies focused on the control, treatment and remedial measurements for water pollution. Nanotechnology, due to its super functional properties, seems like the tool that engineers could use to handle this issue; however, since nanotechnology still a relatively new technology, there still a lot of questions regarding how engineerings could properly use it to rehabilitate the environment.

 Research Statement:

Our team will study how engineers can make use of nanotechnology to deal with air pollution, soil contamination, water pollution and nuclear waste; I will focus on water pollution concernings. For the purpose of this project, I will give emphasis on finding the most recent advances regarding the use of nanotech as a tool for the treatment, control, and prevention of polluted water. Most of my research will be based on the information I will recollect from academic reports and journals. In addition, I’m planning to hold an interview with a member of the Bio-Micro/Nanotechnology Laboratory located on the campus, which I am sure will help me to a better understanding of how nanomaterials work, their limitations and how it can be applied to restore the environment. Once I have successfully recollected this information, I will proceed to write my individual report which then will be added to my partner’s report in the final report. Based on my previous knowledge of the topic I am aware that technologies to deal with water pollution were being developed, with this new investigation I anticipate to find how far these technologies have grown and how suitable they are concerning the current economic and environmental situation fo the world.

 Schedule and Deliverables:

To complete this project our team will take into consideration four main deadlines. Each member of the group should have finished their individual research and reports by June 20th. Based on this research each member will complete their individual reflection statement by June 23rd. After that, we will hold occasional meetings to work and complete the final report until June 26th.  Finally, we will work on the slides and practice for the final presentation until July 3th.

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