A brief introduction of the article
The article under review is titled “Nebraska Pollution Prevention Project: Engineering Education through Technical Assistance” written by Dvorak, Woldt, Hygnstrom, Dahab and Schulte (2003). The article is about Nebraska’s Partners in Pollution Prevention program and the benefits it has brought to the state in the reduction of pollution caused by small businesses. This program essentially recruits Engineering students who are trained in pollution prevention and work as interns in selected businesses and provide the businesses with technical assistance.
Analysis of the key points in the article
Nebraska’s Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3) program has had significant positive outcomes not only on environmental preservation in the state but also on the interns. To begin with, the program has enhanced its efforts in recommending cost-effective pollution prevention strategies to its clients. It has also broadened the range of technical assistance provided by the interns to the clients, for instance, through the inclusion of energy conservation strategies (Dvorak et al., 2003).
Second, the P3 program has enhanced the level of awareness creation in the communities through public education. The interns educate the public on pollution prevention through workshops, presentations and media channels such as newspapers, television, and the radio. Third, the interns involved in the P3 program have gained valuable knowledge about pollution prevention and business communication through the hands-on experience made possible by the program. Fourth, the P3 program involves graduate students who not only assist the undergraduate interns in complex matters but also conduct their research on pollution issues. The research studies undertaken by graduate students are used as case studies and also help them in creating new modeling tools for life-cycle analysis (Dvorak et al., 2003).
Application and comparison of some points in the article that might be applied to the company you work for, or have worked for
Several points can be applied to the company I have worked for. The first is conducting a waste evaluation of the company’s operations to determine the chemical components of the waste and whether or not the waste can be utilized in further production. The second is identifying the technological innovations invented by the company and comparing them with the latest technologies in the market and recommending which latest technology the company should implement to minimize waste. Lastly, conducting an economic evaluation of the company’s current operations and the proposed operations to determine the cost-effectiveness of both operations and recommend which operation the company should adopt.
Summary of the article’s conclusions
Dvorak et al. (2003) conclude by arguing that the success of Nebraska’s P3 program is dependent on many factors which include the stipend provided to the interns, the mentoring opportunity, the technical nature of the tasks given, the logistical support granted. Another important element of the program is the two-week intensive training course which equips interns with knowledge and minimized the need to supervise the interns.
Summary of the article using your own opinions
The article by Dvorak et al. (2003) has valuable information about how one program can go a long way in preserving the environment by reducing the rate of pollution from small businesses. It also shows that with a little motivation, young people can play a key role in environmental conservation. Involving young people in environmental activities is crucial because they are the future leaders and future business owners. With such knowledge and skills, conserving the environment for the present and future generations will no longer be just an illusion.
Reference
Dvorak, B. I., Woldt, W. E., Hygnstrom, J., Dahab. M. F., & Schulte, D. (2003). Nebraska Pollution Prevention Project: Engineering Education through Technical Assistance. Environmental Quality Management, 43-57.