Biological Systems Engineering Department will be exhibiting at KTU on April 18!

Title: How Does Groundwater Move?

Overview: Soil consists of many materials such as sand, gravel, and rocks. Each material has specific characteristics that affect how water moves through them. This hands-on display is designed to introduce students to concepts such as permeability, flow rate, and turbidity.

Activities: A model will be available to simulate groundwater flow through some typical geologic settings. Students will be able to observe the interaction between ground and surface waters. Students will also have the opportunity to create and observe the flow of water through three soil materials: sand, pea gravel, and field soil. This hands-on activity will demonstrate the different permeability and water flow rates of each material along with the turbidity created when water flows through each of the materials.

Hosted by the Biological Systems Engineering Department (http://www.bse.vt.edu)

The Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) program provides students with an opportunity to combine their interests in biological sciences and engineering. The BSE at Virginia Tech focuses primarily in two areas: Bioprocess Engineering and Land and Water Resources Engineering. Bioprocess Engineering focuses on the design and development of processes for environmentally responsible manufacturing of food and industrial products from biological materials. Areas of interest include bioenergy, renewable materials, protein recovery, byproduct utilization, bioresidue management and utilization, systems biology, food safety, food engineering, biopharmaceuticals, and enzymes. Land and Water Resources Engineering focuses on environmental protection and natural resources management. Areas of interest include nonpoint source pollution (water pollution caused by rainfall and runoff from land surfaces such as parking lots, golf courses, urban areas, agricultural fields, and construction sites), stream wetland restoration, low impact development, and watershed management.