2011-2012 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

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and noble gases in water, sediments,
and rocks. In addition to the mass
spectrometric systems, there are several
gas chromatographic systems equipped
with electron capture detectors that
are used for measurements of SF6 in
continental waters and CFCs and SF6
in the atmosphere. GC/MS capability
is being added to the spectrum of
analytical capabilities.
Industry/University Cooperative
Research Center for Advanced
Studies in Novel Surfactants (IUCS).
IUCS was established in 1998 by
the Henry Krumb School of Mines,
Department of Chemical Engineering,
and Department of Chemistry at
Columbia University. The Center
encompasses detailed structureproperty
assessment of several
classes of surface-active molecules,
including oligomeric, polymeric, and
bio-molecules. The aim of IUCS is
to develop and characterize novel
surfactants for industrial applications
such as coatings, dispersions,
deposition, gas hydrate control, personal
care products, soil decontamination,
waste treatment, corrosion prevention,
flotation, and controlled chemical
reactions. The proposed research thus
focuses on the design and development
of specialty surfactants, characterization
of their solution and interfacial behavior,
and identification of suitable industrial
applications for these materials.
The goals of IUCS are to perform
industrially relevant research to
address the technological needs in
commercial surfactant and polymer
systems; develop new and more
efficient surface-active reagents for
specific applications in the industry
and methodologies for optimizing
their performance; promote the use of
environmentally benign surfactants in a
wide array of technological processes;
and build a resource center to perform
and provide state-of-the-art facilities
for characterization of surface-active
reagents: www.columbia.edu/cu/iucrc.
International Research Institute for
Climate Prediction (IRI). The IRI is
the world’s leading institute for the
development and application of seasonal
to interannual climate forecasts. The
mission of the IRI is to enhance society’s
capability to understand, anticipate, and
manage the impacts of seasonal climate
fluctuations, in order to improve human
welfare and the environment, especially in
developing countries. This mission is to be
conducted through strategic and applied
research, education and capacity building,
and provision of forecast and information
products, with an emphasis on practical
and verifiable utility and partnerships.
Langmuir Center for Colloids
and Interfaces (LCCI). This Center
brings together experts from mineral
engineering, applied chemistry, chemical
engineering, biological sciences, and
chemistry to probe complex interactions
of colloids and interfaces with
surfactants and macromolecules. LCCI
activities involve significant interaction
with industrial sponsors and adopt
an interdisciplinary approach toward
state-of-the-art research on interfacial
phenomena. Major areas of research
at LCCI are thin films, surfactant and
polymer adsorption, environmental
problems, enhanced oil recovery,
computer tomography, corrosion and
catalysis mechanisms, membrane
technology, novel separations of
minerals, biocolloids, microbial surfaces,
and interfacial spectroscopy.
Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy.
The mission of the Lenfest Center
for Sustainable Energy is to develop
technologies and institutions to ensure
a sufficient supply of environmentally
sustainable energy for all humanity. To
meet this goal, the Center supports
research programs in energy science,
engineering, and policy across Columbia
University to develop technical and policy
solutions that will satisfy the world’s
future energy needs without threatening
to destabilize Earth’s natural systems.
The mission of the Lenfest Center
is shaped by two global challenges.
First, the Center seeks to reduce the
emission of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere and to forestall a disruption
of global climate systems that would
impose negative consequences for
human welfare. Second, the Center
seeks to create energy options that will
meet the legitimate energy demands
of a larger and increasingly wealthy
world population. In order to meet these
two challenges, the Center seeks to
develop new sources, technologies, and
infrastructures.
The Lenfest Center focuses primarily
on the technological and institutional
development of the three energy
resources sufficient to support the
world’s projected population in 2100
without increased carbon emissions:
solar, nuclear, and fossil fuels combined
with carbon capture and storage.
Although each of these options can,
in theory, be developed on a scale to
satisfy global demand, they each face
a combination of technological and
institutional obstacles that demand
research and development before they
can be deployed.
The Center’s main activities are
based within the range of natural
science and engineering disciplines.
At the same time, it integrates
technological research with analysis
of the institutional, economic, and
political context within which energy
technologies are commercialized and
deployed. For more information: www.
energy.columbia.edu
Waste to Energy Research and
Technology Council (WTERT). The
Waste to Energy Research and
Technology Council brings together
engineers, scientists, and managers
from industry, universities, and
government with the objective of
advancing the goals of sustainable
waste management globally. The
mission of WTERT is to identify the
best available technologies for the
treatment of various waste materials,
conduct additional academic research
as required, and disseminate this
information by means of its publications,
the WTERT Web, and annual
meetings. In particular, WTERT strives
to increase the global recovery of
energy and materials from used solids
and to advance the economic and
environmental performance of waste-toenergy
(WTE) technologies in the U.S.
and worldwide. The guiding principle is
that responsible management of wastes
must be based on science and the
best available technology and not what
seems to be inexpensive now but can
be very costly in the near future. For
more information: www.seas.columbia.
edu/earth/wtert
engineering 2011–2012