Technical Program Scope
The major themes to be covered by the Symposium are listed below; click on any theme to see a brief overview and a list of example topics. Note that the example topics do not imply eventual session titles, nor are they complete lists of appropriate topics. Abstracts addressing bioremediation and sustainable environmental technologies as applied to any contaminant may be submitted for review. Submissions on fundamental research, treatability studies, and field applications are welcome. Program committee members are contacting experts, particularly in the subject areas new to the Symposium, and inviting them to participate in developing sessions.
Bioremediation Technologies: Approaches, Applications, and Lessons Learned
Tools for Assessing Bioremediation
Assessment and Treatment of Emerging Contaminants
Degradation Pathways and Microbial Ecology
Biology-Based Alternative Energy
Sustainable Site Management Strategies
Green and Sustainable Remediation (GSR)
Crude Oil in the Environment
Vapor Intrusion
To ensure maximum opportunity for placement in the program, abstracts should be well-written and submitted no later than the November 15 due date. Immediately after November 15, an intense multilevel review will begin. Program committee members will perform the initial review and make tentative assignments of abstracts to sessions; the session chairs will make the final decisions on which abstracts will be placed in the platform and poster sections of their sessions.
Example Topics:
Bioremediation Technologies: Approaches, Applications, and Lessons Learned
The Symposium will continue as the primary international venue where bioremediation researchers and practitioners present the outcomes and lessons learned from their work. Sessions in this group highlight new approaches and further ongoing work in the many technologies that capitalize on biological processes to treat a wide range of contaminants (e.g., petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, PAHs, NAPLs, pesticides, energetic compounds, PCBs, and metals). Possible topics include:
1.1 Enhancements to aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation
1.2 Biobarrier installation, monitoring, and renewal
1.3 Bioaugmentation
1.4 Designs for fractured rock and bedrock environments
1.5 Addressing the impacts of low pH on aquifers
1.6 Improvements to subsurface delivery strategies
1.7 Strategies for DNAPL and source zone remediation
1.8 Treatment strategies for large dilute plumes
1.9 Combining thermal and/or chemical treatments with biological polishing approaches
1.10 Advances in phytoremediation
Tools for Assessing Bioremediation
This category provides the opportunity to present the tool-specific facets of site monitoring and management. These sessions will help to increase recognition and acceptance of innovative tools utilized in assessing bioremediation strategies. Possible topics include:
2.1 Advanced detection methods
2.2 Molecular biological tools (MBTs)
2.3 Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA)
2.4 Assessment of monitored natural attenuation (MNA)
2.5 Development and applications of predictive models
Assessment and Treatment of Emerging Contaminants
Sessions in this category will explore methods for assessing the risks of emerging contaminants to humans and the environment and discuss potential crossover treatment strategies employed at industrial and residential wastewater facilities. Possible topics include:
3.1 Endocrine disruptors and associated pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP) in aquatic environments
3.2 NDMI, 1,4 dioxane, and other emerging contaminants
3.3 Detection methods for emerging contaminants
3.4 Human health and ecological risk assessment for emerging contaminants
3.5 Treatment technologies for emerging contaminants
Degradation Pathways and Microbial Ecology
The mechanistic understanding of contaminant degradation pathways continues to improve. To harness these new pathways and engineer improved remedial designs, it is vital to understand how these processes fit into the overarching microbial ecology of the system. Possible topics include:
4.1 Aerobic and anaerobic pathways
4.2 Abiotic pathways
4.3 Modeling degradation pathways
4.4 Identification and evaluation of novel microorganisms
4.5 Microbial ecology
4.6 Quantification of biogeochemical transformation processes
4.7 Groundwater-to-surface water interface mechanisms
Biology-Based Alternative Energy
New to the 2011 Symposium, this category will consider how this rapidly growing field fits within sustainable environmental restoration. Possible topics include:
5.1 Social impacts of biofuel production and use
5.2 Environmental impacts of biofuel production and use
5.3 Cogeneration
5.4 Microbial-based fuel cells
5.5 Special considerations in addressing biofuel spills
Sustainable Site Management Strategies
This topic category provides the opportunity to disseminate experiences in sustainable site management. These sessions will offer lessons learned during the life cycle of the environmental restoration process. Possible topics include:
6.1 Innovative site characterization
6.2 Remedial risk management
6.3 Optimization and site closure strategies
6.4 Long-term monitoring optimization
6.5 Brownfield redevelopment and reuse
6.6 Operational range sustainability and munitions response
6.7 Mining waste and acid mine drainage
6.8 Long-Term Plume Response to Source Treatment
Green and Sustainable Remediation (GSR)
GSR is growing and evolving rapidly. These sessions will support the sharing of information among practitioners on new policies and guidance, techniques, and lessons learned. Possible topics include:
7.1 Green chemistry
7.2 GSR metrics and tools
7.3 Incorporating GSR into remedy selection and design
7.4 Incentives for implementing GSR
7.5 System optimization for footprint reduction
7.6 Use of on-site renewable energy
7.7 Net environmental, social, and economic benefits
Crude Oil in the Environment
Large releases of crude oil into the environment present quite complex challenges in cleanup and evaluation of the short- and long-term impacts to aquatic ecosystems, shorelines, and wetlands. Possible topics include:
8.1 Biodegradation of crude oil spills
8.2 Restoration of wetlands
8.3 Fate and transport of oil in saline environments
8.4 Impact of spills on ecosystems
8.5 Applications of mycotechnologies
8.6 Impact of dispersants in aquatic environments
Vapor Intrusion
Vapor intrusion study is critical for evaluation of subsurface contaminants and their associated risks. This field is advancing rapidly, and the Symposium will provide a venue to present and discuss current findings. Possible topics include:
9.1 Conceptual site models (CSMs): toxicity, risk, fate and transport
9.2 Sampling and assessment
9.3 Degradation processes in the vadose zone
9.4 Understanding and accounting for spatial and temporal variability in vapor intrusion assessment data collection
9.5 Linking vapor intrusion issues with cost-effective remediation and sustainable redevelopment
9.6 Mitigation
Inquiries
Questions on abstract submission and review should be addressed to Gina Melaragno (e-mail: biosymp@battelle.org; phone: 614-424-7866).