Lycoming College News

College begins biodiesel production

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

Chemistry Department featured in latest Lycoming Magazine

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

Geologists to lead discussion on Marcellus Gas Drilling

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College Clean Water Institute and the Responsible Drilling Alliance will co-sponsor a discussion on Marcellus Gas Drilling on Friday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. in the College’s Academic Center D-001. Geologists Dr. Michel C. Boufadel and Dr. Anthony Ingraffea will be presenting their perspectives on drilling issues as they discuss hydrofracking.

Hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, is a process that results in the creation of fractures in rocks in order to increase the output of a well. The technique is most commonly used to stimulate gas wells and increases or restores the rate at which the gas can be produced from a reservoir, whether from a traditional or more unusual source, such as shale rock or coal beds.

Boufadel is a professor and chair of Temple’s civil and environmental engineering department. Boufadel is concerned with the environmental impact of oil drilling. In the height of this year’s BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, he used computers to guide responders trying to contain the spill.

Ingraffea, in addition to being a professor of civil and environmental engineering, is a member of the Cornell Fracture Group. Comprised of faculty, research associates and graduate students, the mission of the group is to create, verify and validate computational simulation systems for fracture control in engineered systems. Ingraffea's research concentrates on computer simulation and physical testing of complex fracturing processes.

Lycoming to hold Science Saturday Oct. 2

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College will host its annual Science Saturday Open House on Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m. The program offers high school juniors and seniors an inside look at the College’s astronomy, biology, chemistry and physics departments.

“Science Saturday is a great way for students interested in collegiate science majors to meet with students already in the programs,” said Dr. David Fisher, professor of astronomy and physics. “At a small liberal arts institution, students work along-side faculty members with instruction that is individualized as much as possible. Laboratory work counts heavily toward undergraduate preparation for their careers or graduate school studies.”

Attendees may choose three sessions from the six offered. They include: Choosing a Health Profession; Clean Air, Clean Water and the Environment; Biology...A World of Possibilities; Chemistry...The Central Science; Astronomy and Physics...The Final Frontier; and The Out of Classroom Experience.

“We have a panel of students who talk about their summer internship experiences,” says Dr. Michelle Briggs, assistant professor of biology. “This is a great chance for high school students to see what summer research opportunities we have at Lycoming, and how some students stretch beyond Lycoming to find exciting research projects across the globe.”

Tours of the campus and lunch will also be provided for the attendees. For more information or to register for Science Saturday, please contact the Office of Admissions at 1.800.345.3920 x4026 or visit www.lycoming.edu/admissions.

http://www.lycoming.edu/astronomy/index.html

Clean Water Institute to co-host program on Marcellus Shale gas issues

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway will lead a discussion on the Marcellus Shale development during an event hosted by Susquehanna Chapter Trout Unlimited and the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute on Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. in Room D-001 of the College’s Academic Center. William Worobec, president of the PFBC Board of Commissioners, will also be in attendance.

Arway will present the commission’s perspective on how aquatic resources are impacted by Marcellus Shale development projects, explaining the commission’s role in enforcing pollution laws and making a case for enacting the proposed severance tax.

Arway explains that, since 1909, the commission has had the authority to enforce water pollution laws and it will continue to ensure that Marcellus projects are designed and implemented with as little environmental resource impact as possible.

The protection of fishing and boating activities is crucial to the operation of the commission, which relies almost entirely on fishing licenses, boat registrations and federal funding to pay for everything it does. Therefore, it is imperative that the commission is aware and ahead of the Marcellus development projects because of its responsibility to protect fishing and boating resources.

“If we received a portion of the severance tax,” said Arway, “we could take a collaborative approach with both the industry and other agencies that are reviewing and advising projects.” It is his hope that the commission not only gathers to review and comment on projects, but that it works with developers and other agencies to enforce water pollution laws and ensure the protection of resources.