This is a past event.

Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar

Professor Eric Seagren, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering, Michigan Tech

Abstract:

In 2022, the presenter was awarded a Michigan Tech Century II Campaign Endowed Equipment Fund (C2E2) grant, with cost share from the manufacturer and Department of Civil, Geospatial, and Environmental Engineering to purchase a VisiSens TD system for 2-dimensional readouts of optical chemical sensor foils (for O₂, CO₂, and pH). This optical sensor system is manufactured by the German company, Presens Precision Sensing GmbH, Regensburg, Germany, which is "a world leader in the field of optical sensor technology."  Researchers have found numerous ways in which to apply the VisiSens TD plus optical sensors in a variety of industries, including biology and environmental applications, medical and life sciences applications, biotech and pharma applications, etc.  For example, the VisiSens TD and the optical sensor foils (available in different sizes) can be used for non-invasive mapping of large areas and gathering information on spatial and temporal analyte changes, such as in large scale pH and CO₂ imaging of root-soil interactions within rhizotrons or when analyzing biogeochemical processes in sediments.  It is also well suited for application in sensitive processes, e.g., metabolic activity of living samples or tissue engineering, where O₂ gradients over a cross section of a 3D graft can be monitored.  The VisiSensTD can also be equipped with microscope optics for measuring analyte gradients with very high spatial resolution, e.g., in microfluidic systems.  The goal of this seminar is to provide an overview of some of the potential opportunities for use of the VisiSens TD system in research and education.