From Waste to Success: The Living Machine Technology Project

克拉特索普社区学院拥有一台Living Machine，这是一种废水处理设施，通过一系列厌氧、好氧和水培池对废水进行生物处理，最后构建湿地，实现废水的三级处理。从系统中排出的水适合回用。这个新兴的生态友好、经济合理的系统看起来像一个大型温室，但也是一个动手的科学实验室。这台活着的机器拥有巨大的，而且到目前为止还没有开发的研究和教育潜力。该项目通过利用生命机器的教育和研究潜力，向高中生和大学生介绍环境技术。将技术与科学教育和研究相结合，鼓励学生从事与技术相关的职业。该项目1)设计和实施丰富的动手实验室科学课程，利用生命机器的生态，并向学生介绍环境技术；2)开发以生命机器技术为中心的独立实验室科学课程；3)与地区高中合作，鼓励将生命机器用作生活课堂(包括课程开发和教师准备)；4)与2年和4年的学院/大学合作，以生命机器技术为中心开发短期课程或项目；5)开展研究，表明生命机器在处理废水方面与传统系统一样有效；以及6)设计和实施研究，以回答有关废水和湿地生态的问题。

Clatsop Community College is home to a Living Machine, a wastewater treatment facility that processes wastewater biologically through a series of anaerobic, aerobic, and hydroponic tanks, and finally constructed wetlands to achieve tertiary treatment of the wastewater. Water out of the system is suitable for reuse. This emerging ecologically friendly and economically sound system looks like a large greenhouse, but is also a hands-on science laboratory. The Living Machine has tremendous and, as yet, untapped research and educational potential. This project introduces high school and college students to environmental technology through the use of the educational and research potential of the Living Machine. Integration of technology with science education and research encourages students to pursue technology-related occupations. This project 1) designs and implements an enriched hands-on lab science curriculum that utilizes the ecology of the Living Machine, and gives students an introduction to environmental technology; 2) develops an independent lab science course centered around the Living Machine technology; 3) partners with area high schools to encourage use of Living Machine as a living classroom (to include curriculum development and teacher preparation); 4) partners with 2 and 4 year colleges/universities to develop short courses or projects centered around the Living Machine technology; 5) develops research showing the Living Machine is as effective as conventional systems in treating wastewater; and 6) designs and implements research to answer questions regarding wastewater and wetland ecology.