Environmental students earned professional certifications from Aquatic Animal Life Support organization
Fourteen students in Environmental Engineering Technology (EVT) earned certifications from the Aquatic Animal Life Support Operations (AALSO) professional organization, by passing organization exams that were incorporated into EVT Fall Semester courses.
Hersey Strickland earned certifications as both Life Support Operator Level 1 and Water Quality Technician Level 1.
Ten other students earned the Water Quality Technician certification that was administered in the class EVT 230 – Treatment Technologies:
- Jordan Bell
- Bartholomew Despartes
- Justin Foust
- Michael Guastella
- Alec Mathes
- Morgan Smith
- Laura (Bri) Stadtmiller
- Josephine (Josie) Timmers
- Donnajean (D.J.) Wells
- Mykiale White (also previously earned the Life Support Operator certification through an EVT class)
Three other students earned the Life Support Operator certification that was administered in the course EVT 246 – Operations of Wastewater Treatment Plants:
- Erin Ford
- Norman Hill
- Scott Scheve
EVT Program Chair Ann Gunkel said the AALSO Field Guide has been adopted as a textbook for the EVT 230 and EVT 246 courses and is used throughout these courses to prepare students for the exams.
- The Water Quality exam topics include lab safety, USDA regulations, common laboratory equipment, theory and operation of analytical testing, and more.
- The Life Support Operator exam topics include sand filtration, biological filtration, chemical filtration, system disinfection, automated control systems, and more.
“Cincinnati State is one of only eleven colleges or universities in the U.S. that have incorporated AALSO training into the curriculum and are authorized to offer the certification exams,” Dr. Gunkel said.
AALSO was formed in 1994 when approximately 30 zoo and aquarium Life Support System professionals met to discuss water filtration systems. Now the organization has over 1,000 members, more than 500 certified operators, and about 300 vendor members.
- AALSO encourages advancement of the science and technology of life support for care of aquatic systems and animals.
- The organization provides a forum for water quality and mechanical system professionals at zoos and aquariums, along with curators, researchers and vendors, to exchange information and ideas to enhance stewardship of the animals in their care.