AECOM Environment Collaborates with University of California at Santa Barbara on Sustainable Nanotechnology Initiative
SANTA
BARBARA, Calif. (March 9, 2009) - AECOM Environment and the University of
California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) are collaborating on the new Sustainable
Nanotechnology Initiative (SNI) at UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. AECOM Environment is
the global environmental practice of AECOM, and a leader in environmental health
and safety solutions.
Nanotechnology
involves engineering
at atomic-scale levels to create new materials, devices, and systems with unique
properties and capabilities – the ability to manipulate matter roughly 1/100,000
the width of a human hair. While new nanotechnology-related products are brought
to market daily and are impacting global industry and society, the environmental
and human health risks are largely unknown. The goal of the SNI is to begin to
understand the environmental risks associated with engineered
nanomaterials.
AECOM’s
Environmental
Toxicology Lab and risk assessment group will collaborate with UCSB to
study nanomaterial fate and transport, assist in exposure assessment and risk
quantification and modeling, develop outreach programs and related training
materials for use by industry involved in handling nanomaterials, and conduct
“real world" testing of methods and instrumentation for the detection and
characterization of nanomaterials.
“New
nanotechnology-related products are already impacting global industry and
society, and the Bren School’s SNI is critical to helping industry and the
public understand the health and environmental implications of nanomaterials,”
said Robert Weber, AECOM Environment Group Chief Executive. “Our collaboration
provides another platform to share expertise, and positions us to better assist
our clients in addressing issues associated with some
nanomaterials.”
AECOM
Environment is also working on nanotechnology projects for other public- and
private-sector clients, including aquatic toxicity studies for a major
commercial producer of carbon nanotubes which will help determine how wastewater
discharge from the production of these materials affects aquatic species.
About
AECOM
AECOM
Environment is AECOM’s full-service global
business line dedicated to serving industrial, commercial and government clients
with seamless delivery of comprehensive environmental management and
sustainability services. AECOM is a global
provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad
range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental and
energy. With 43,000 employees around the world, AECOM blends global reach, local
knowledge, innovation, and technical excellence in delivering solutions that
enhance and sustain the world's built, natural, and social environments. AECOM
serves clients in more than 100 countries and had revenue of $5.6 billion during
the 12-month period ended December 31, 2008. More information on AECOM and its
services can be found at www.aecom.com.
About
the Bren School
The
Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of
California, Santa Barbara, is home to an interdisciplinary graduate program
focused on environmental problem solving through the integration of science,
management, law, economics, and policy. Offering both a professional Master of
Environmental Science and Management degree and a PhD track, the School’s
mission is to play a leading role in researching environmental issues, training
scientists and environmental management professionals, and identifying and
solving environmental problems around the world. It is ranked among the top four
programs of its kind in the nation and is the only such program in the western
United States. For more information, go to www.bren.ucsb.edu.
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