SBRP Researchers Present Short Course at Workshop: Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Drs. A. Jay Gandolfi (Director, UA SBRP), Raina Maier (Associate Director, UA SBRP), Jim Field (Outreach Core Director, UA SBRP ), Joaquin Ruiz (Dean, UA College of Science), Sergio Revah (Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana), Patricia Ostrosky (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico), Mariano Cebrián (Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional), Thomas Kretzschmar (Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada), and Diana Meza (Universidad de Sonora) presented a short course on environmental sciences and technology at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The workshop was held March 16-18, 2005 at the Center for Scientific Investigation and Education in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico and 64 graduate students and researchers were in attendance. The topics presented included phytostabilization of mine tailings, biodegradation, biofiltration of gases, genotoxicity, arsenic toxicity to organs, toxicity of lead and arsenic to children, use of metal isotopes in environmental investigations, aquifer characterization, water quality, and future plans for a collaborative US-Mexico Binational Center. Much of the research presented was supported by the SBRP. The USAID grant trains Mexican graduate students in environmental health, sciences, and engineering, and promotes exchanges of students and scientists between the US and Mexico.