BIORESOURCE ENGINEERING SEMINAR

BIORESOURCE ENGINEERING SEMINAR

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2010
10:00-11:30
R2-046

Item 1: Seminar by Golmar Golmohammadi
Modeling Hydrology Using SWAT

Freshwater resources are highly sensitive to changes in weather and climate and a reliable watershed management model is a key step to identifying best management practices to increase water use efficiency. The Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was evaluated with flow at the outlet of the Canagagique Creek watershed which is located in southwestern Ontario.

Golmar is a second year Ph.D student in Bioresource Engineering. Her project is about the development of a hydrologic model at the watershed scale. Her supervisors are Professors Prasher and Madani (NSAC). She obtained her Bachelor and Master Degrees from the University of Tehran, Iran. She has also worked as a GIS and water resource expert for several companies


Item 2: Seminar by Johannes Halbe
The Engineer’s Method and Role

Science, technology and engineering have made life more convenient for most humans but have also resulted in some detrimental effects on the environment at the same time. Engineers are expected to play a role in the solution of some of these environmental problems. In this presentation the engineering method and the role of engineers in society will be discussed. What are the reasons for the prominence of the engineering method? And, what is the role of the engineer in sustainable development?

Johannes Halbe is a PhD student in Bioresource Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Jan Adamowski. He has an interdisciplinary background, with a BA in Economics and a Master degree in Civil Engineering. He has worked as a research associate in the team of Prof. Claudia Pahl-Wostl at the Institute of Environmental Systems Research, the University of Osnabrueck, Germany.


Item 3: Seminar by Mahsa Madani-Hosseini
Biocement

One way to reduce the carbon dioxide generated during cement manufacture is to add silica-rich materials that can partially replace the Portland cement component. Amorphous biosilica ash produced by burning biological wastes and plant residues can be used in this way. Most investigations in this apporach are focused on the use of tropical and sub-tropical agriculture waste to produce biosilica but in this presentation other plants that grow in temperate and cold-temperate climates will be discussed.

Mahsa completed her Master in Soil Science at Tehran University, Iran. She is currently engaged in PhD-level studies on anaerobic digestion, under the supervision of Professor Barrington.


Item 4: Seminar by Michael Schwalb
Supplemental LED Lighting for Commercial Greenhouses

With new technological developments in LED lighting there exists the potential to greatly increase the efficiency of supplemental lighting for controlled environment agriculture. However, to truly exploit the potential of this emerging technology, the photosynthetic curve must be defined better. Accordingly, the goal of my research is to refine the photosynthetic curve with monochromatic light.

Michael recently completed his Bachelor Degree in Bioresource Engineering and is now pursuing a Master degree under the supervision of Professor Lefsrud. He plans to pursue a career in environmental engineering.


Item 5: Seminar by Lucia Shuang-Ye Qiao
Panda Conservation in China

Pandas are one of the most adored species in modern times. Their cuteness and cultural symbolism of peace and friendship have made pandas the “flagship” of conservation biology.  Currently the conservation work on pandas in China is slowly progressing, but there are several fundamental reasons why conservation is very difficult and why pandas as a species wil have trouble surviving in the modern world.  

Lucia was born in China and emigrated to Canada at the age of 13. She has always been fascinated with every aspect of natural science. She completed a BSc in Environmental Science at the University of Ottawa and is now working on an an MSc in Bioresource Engineering. Ultimately, she hopes to make a difference in reducing agricultural pollution. Lucia is shown with her plush rabbit, Snow, who is almost as precious to her as a panda since she has known him for seventeen years!