UC Toxics News
Fall Issue 1997
(Vol. 13 No. 1)
Spring 97 Symposium
With over 200 participants, the UC TSR&TP 10th Annual Research Symposium set a new record for attendance. The symposium, held at the Catamaran Hotel in San Diego Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, 1997, showcased the research supported by the program in 1996-97. Students, faculty, and representatives from state & federal government, public interest groups, and private industry gathered to discuss current research on toxic substances. The event began with a reception and informal poster viewing on Friday evening, which provided participants with an opportunity to select projects of interest for the formal sessions the following day.
UC
TSR&TP Director Jerold Last addresses symposium participants
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A banquet and program announcements concluded the first day of the symposium. The Saturday session commenced with a continental breakfast and a welcome address by TSR&TP Director Jerry Last, and continued with formal talks in the morning and the afternoon. Presentations were given by Dr. Marc Deshusses from UC Riverside on the progress of his technology demonstration project, a biotrickling filter for the treatment of VOC-contaminated air, Dr. Barbara Finlayson-Pitts from UC Irvine on her Air Toxics Initiative, Dr. Richard Becker from Cal EPA on improving health risk assessment, and Cris Liban, a doctoral student from UC Los Angeles, on the MTBE controversy.
Poster sessions and a luncheon provided an intermission in the formal presentations and spawned lively conversations between project investigators and other symposium participants. The major goals of the annual symposium are to bring together researchers affiliated with the TSR&TP and to provide a forum for them to share ideas and build future collaborations. Judging from the overwhelmingly positive feedback the TSR&TP received after the symposium, our mission has succeeded and we look forward to next spring's meeting.
TSR&TP Researchers stand near their poster at the Symposium Poster session.
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11th Annual Research Symposium to be held in Berkeley
The TSR&TP 11th Annual Research Symposium is planned for April 24-25th, 1998, at the Radisson Hotel Berkeley Marina (formerly the Berkeley Marina Marriott). Invitations will be sent out to all TSR&TP affiliates in early spring, and detailed information will be available on this website in the winter. The general public is invited to attend the Saturday session at no charge. For more information, contact Mika Pringle Tolson , TSR&TP Program Coordinator (530) 752-2097.
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TSR&TP Receives Grant for Self-Assessment
In June, the TSR&TP was awarded a one-year grant from the UC Office of the President to conduct a self assessment of the economic impact the program has had on the State of California since its inception in 1985. The goals of the project are to analyze the career paths of students and trainees, document intellectual property transfer to industry, and to compare the contributions to job creation and technology of UC faculty associated with the TSRT&P to a similar group of non-UC faculty. If you are a past trainee or faculty associate of the TSR&TP and would like to participate in our study, or if you have information relating to someone who fits this description, please contact Jerry Last . We are especially interested in current contact information for former graduate students and postdoctoral fellows supported by the program and former program faculty who have moved elsewhere.
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Funding for 98-99 Available for Graduate Student and Faculty Research
The UC TSR&TP grants program is approaching another year of awards. Funding for Individual Investigator Grants and Graduate Student Fellowships will soon be available for the 98-99 academic year. Requests for proposals will be issued in November to all UC campuses, and announcements and application forms will be posted on this web site in November as well. The deadline for submission of applications will be January 30th, 1998.
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Graduate Student Fellowship Recipient Investigates New Technology to Curb Air Pollution
Inside Test Cell 1 of the UC Irvine Combustion Laboratory, a shiny metal furnace sits on a platform in the middle of the room. The base of the furnace is made up of glass windows for experimental observation, and more than a dozen tubes, valves and wires protrude from the sides of this giant. Some of the
se are attached to a large piece of machinery resembling the smog check apparatus found at your local service station. In fact, this machine is very similar: "It's used to measure the air toxics and other major air polllutants coming out of the burner," explains Trevor Demayo , a recent recipient of a TSR&TP graduate student fellowship. Demayo is developing a method for analyzing emissions, especially of air toxics (carbon monoxide (CO), and smog-forming ozone precursors) arising from the combustion of natural gas by stationary sources like utilities and power plants. Much like smog equipment on modern cars, these diagnostic analyzers will use sensors to monitor emissions and gather data for a computer feedback system that controls the input parameters to the combustion system. The goal is to maximize the fuel burning efficiency while minimizing pollution. California relies heavily on natural gas combustion for its energy production. Natural gas is a relatively clean burning fuel, but its combustion gives rise to nitrogen oxide emissions. Industry is trying to replace natural gas-fired reciprocating engines with gas turbines, but even this technology, designed for ultra-low NOx emissions, isn't totally clean; it can actually increase emissions because the operating conditions that reduce NOx and increase combustion efficiency may lead to the escape of partially oxidized hydrocarbons. The goals of Demayo's current project are to characterize hazardous air pollutant and ozone precursor emissions from stationary, natural gas-fired turbines, and to develop guidelines for the design and operation of less polluting turbines. His project will help stationary sources meet their air toxics control objectives, and provide better technology for industry to comply with air pollution standards.
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Meet the TSR&TP Staff
In April of 1997, Lisa Hale Stevenson joined the TSR&TP as the new Program Manager. With a degree in economics and more than eight years of experience as a staff member at UC Davis, she brings management, accounting and grant expertise to the job. Lisa grew up in Davis and has strong ties to the university - her grandfather is a Professor Emeritus in Poultry Science, and several other family members are also employed at the university. Before coming to the TSR&TP, Lisa worked in the Athletics Department organizing team travel and managing accounts, among many other things. Her current responsibilities include: overseeing the program budget, organizing conferences and symposiums, administering grant awards, advising on the policies and procedures of the TSR&TP, and supervising the staff. Lisa lives in Davis with her husband and two-year old daughter. She is expecting twins and will be on maternity leave for the months of October and November.
Program Coordinator
Mika Pringle Tolson
Mika has been employed with the Toxic Substances Program since 1994 and enjoys her role as coordinator. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in environmental studies. After a summer as an interpretive ranger at Redwood National Park, she worked in the UCD temporary employment pool before being hired by the TSR&TP. Mika has been responsible for maintaining the mailing list, disseminating program information, organizing committee meetings as well as conferences and symposia, and administering grant records. In spring of this year, she added the new duties of overseeing the publications and general accounting. Mika and her husband reside in Davis, and she enjoys cycling to work every day, taking numerous camping trips, and pursuing botany and photography.
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