Students from Missouri S&T recently participated in the 8th International Phytotechnologies Conference held Sept. 13-16, in Portland, Ore. A poster presented by Matt Limmer titled “Long-Term Monitoring of Chlorinated Ethenes in Trees: Seasonal Variation,” received second place for best poster presentation. Limmer is a graduate student in environmental engineering from Oregon, Ohio. Co-authors included Amanda Holmes, a freshman in environmental engineering from Rolla, and Joel Burken, professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering.

Cailie Carlile, a senior in environmental engineering from Sedalia, Mo., and Yuan Yuan, a graduate student in environmental engineering, attended the conference as part of the International Phytotechnologies Scholars program, which is supported through a donation from Alcoa and a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Using the NIEHS grant, S&T helped fund the scholar’s program, which brought 45 S&T students to the conference to present their individual research.
This year’s conference offered in-depth training and exploration of urban stormwater management, sustainable built environments, constructed wetlands, and ecosystem services and markets. Attendees representing more than 25 countries were present, with 150 student posters and oral presentations.