Chloe
Environmentalist from France
2008

As a scientist with concern over laboratory tasks, Chloe expressed her interest to get involved in experiments related to chlorine removal from Port LaBelle tap drinking water. Number of water quality and related tests concluded in findings that can be now used throughout the USA.

During next stage of her training, Chloe reviewed various reports components related to utilities planning in Hendry County. Her expertise as an environmentalist brought new perspectives into what's usually just an engineering task.

Chloe is also a person that any team leader would want to have in a group - always with positive attitude and always ready to solve problems with maximal focus. We were lucky to host her in our group and are happy that we could provide her with experiences that widen her future career chances.

Steve
Automation technologist from Indonesia
2008

Having finished his Masters in engineering and currently pursuing additional education in business, Steve decided to spend his Florida internship working on an energy and global warming project. Technical analysis of energy options requires the ability to compare carbon taxation rates in various chemical and economic terms. Steve developed a energy conversions technical report and translated it to a working webpage, databases and software tools useful in environment and business solutions.

Steve understood that there are three key factors for the successful future of human population - technology, business and environment. These can and must be managed in balance, not disharmony. Steve got this point and we are confident that a bright future awaits him.

Steve during spectacular space shuttle launch in VIP area

Mihee
Environmental Engineer from South Korea
2007 - 2008

Mihee came to Florida for her 6-month training from one of the most prestigious universities in South Korea – Busan Maritime University. Seeking practical experience in environmental engineering related to water management to obtain her MSc degree, Mihee had enough opportunities to put her hands on practical tasks in Florida.

At first she handled wide range of tasks related to water samples within environmental Pelaez project (BMP improvements in Lake Okeechobee basin area).

In next stage of the training her focus moved towards experiments on chlorine removal from Port LaBelle tap water. The experiment resulting report can be now widely used by utilities throughout the USA as a public information item regarding how to effectively remove residual chlorine from drinking water to improve taste and thus save consumers money unnecessarily spent on bottled water.

Mihee also developed related educational flyers that were then used during Earth Day presentations to hundreds of visitors.

Monyo
Economist from Bulgaria
2008

Just after finishing with Work & Travel program in Alaska, Monyo decided to do some rapid changes in his life when coming to Florida – not only climate-wise, but mostly when it comes to higher level aims in his professional career.

At first, Monyo was seeking an experience with engineering technologies. He was therefore assigned to handle various engineering elements of Pelaez ranch project. His assignments included data collection with technical tools, field equipment maintenance and used telemetry system improvements. Practical experience with environmental, mechanical and electronic engineering can be thus added to his CV after measuring very well in this area.

Monyo was also seeking experience in management skills. Not only he actively led his little team of other trainees during Pelaez project, but he was also assigned to wide range of office management related duties, including fiscal management and databases management.

Given Monyo’s high determination, he was granted training program extension from initial 3 months to 6 months.

Monyo during local community political event in LaBelle

Faical during clean-up event in LaBelle Nature Park

Faical
Electrical Engineer from Morocco
2007 - 2008

Pursuing Electrical and Control Systems Engineering Masters degree in Canada, Faical quickly found himself in Florida as a fish in water when working on designing and improving security system within LaBelle Nature Park. This system further improvements needed to be pursued by skilled and curious person and Faical fitted perfectly into this position. Not only he almost completely redesigned the main systems to be used, but he also helped with all materials searches and purchases, installations of the system in the field, tests, troubleshoots and PC control center set ups.

Faical also showed high interest in development work issues, thus helped with ongoing tasks related to long-term SDS/III mission – improving limited water and sanitation resources in developing countries. Faical made huge difference in preparing materials for 2007 Rotary International 98th Annual Convention in Salt Lake City.

Laurent
Mechanical Engineer from France
2007 - 2008

Using Laurent’s words, the time he spent in Florida was well invested: “After this 20 weeks training, I feel that I have learned many new things really important for my future career. What I did during this internship helped me to realize difficulties and challenges of doing engineering job.” And he continues about the wider aim of SDS/III focuses: “In addition to the technical skills, I have also learnt a lot in personnel management, while helping others to train in field and laboratory tasks, trying to motivate them to do the best all the time. I also realized that in field work and other outdoor systems, you always need to think simplicity...and that is exactly what an engineering job is about: making life easier and more comfortable, while respecting environmental and economical principles.“

We are proud to read these Laurent’s words, knowing that we helped him to realize his potentials, shaped his visions and provided him with intensive training that will boost his future professional career options. We just can wish for more interns like Laurent.

Laurent and Florida natioanl tree - palms

David under Florida old oak trees

David
Mechanical Engineer from France
2007 - 2008

David, being already through several previous other traditional internships, was still seeking that “something special” he wanted to add to his portfolio, prior becoming an independent engineer. Well, he found that in SDS/III. He experienced roles of both – small scale engineering consulting firm as well as large scale governmental agencies and theirs technical as well as administrative interactions.

Being already more experienced than an average college intern, David became quickly a team-leader of the trainees group assigned to Pelaez ranch project. He mastered it all – collecting field samples, preparing them in lab, writing SOPs for improving used procedures, maintaining field equipment, troubleshooting telemetry bugs, helping others whenever needed, communicating with project managers…you name it. His positive and “can-do no matter what” attitude made him an example for all others interns.

Laura
Environmental Scientist from UK
2007 - 2008

Seeking her very first hands-on professional experience, Laura came to Florida with very high expectations and plans. Just as majority of UK students we have hosted so far, Laura was interested in training regarding grants opportunities and articulating environmental issues to public. Her training got with time even wider, because Laura was eager to take every opportunity to learn, discovering new horizons almost every day during her training.

Just to name few - Laura participated on content development and messages delivering to wide public audience through Caloosahatchee News website, supported in high-class manner grants activities of CRCA-Riverwatch environmental group, helped to develop further concepts and plans for LaBelle Nature Park Environmental and Education Center, actively supported non-profit activities run by LaBelle Rotary Club.

During the days of her training coming to end, she was accepted to a prestigious position with non-profit organization in UK and moved ahead with her professional goals.

Laura taking rest in one of LaBelle parks

Luke diving in Florida Keys

Luke
Electrical Engineer from USA
2007

Being a student in prestigious Purdue University, Luke came to Florida with desire to improve his knowledge and skills in electronic engineering. At first, he had to master all the engineering equipment and methodological procedures used in Pelaez ranch BMP project, needed for further, more specialized research.

Following that, Luke was given an opportunity to improve procedures for collecting data from Campbell Scientific CR-dataloggers and various types of levellogers, not using traditional laptops (not really suitable for daily field tasks), but using PDA tools. During this researching, testing, troubleshooting and synchronizing various pieces of equipment, Luke gained impressive understanding of this cutting edge electronics and also prepared several high quality manuals that will help future interns (and interested public) to master these issues.

Sun Hee
Mechanical Engineer from South Korea
2007

Sun Hee, currently getting her degree in John's Hopkins University in Baltimore, came for an internhsip in spring 2007 and made a huge difference in lives of many people she never actually met. It is because Sunny participated in a development project that SDS/III has been running in cooperation with Rotary International.

Sunny helped to prepare various materials that were presented in 2007 Rotary International 98th Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, worked on improving Engineering manual for drinking water delivery systems, automated video presentations and other marketing materials, translated texts into several languages and much more.

Her focused effort really helped to improve living standards of many people in the developing world, who are suffering from poverty and limited water/sanitation resources.

Sunny during a lunch break in a "jungle" park right next to III office.

David in LaBelle Nature Park during installation of security system equipment

David
Electrical Engineer from France
2007

David handled during his training assignments mostly related to Pelaez ranch project.

He helped with installation of water sampler components, did a lot of troubleshooting on mechanical and electronic parts of the equipment and joined water sampling field crew anytime needed. He also updated many SOPs prepared by his fellow interns less skilled in electronics.

David’s other major assignment was moving ahead with security system used for protecting LaBelle Nature Park. He helped with selection of the cameras and other equipment, installing and testing softwares employed in the system and actual installation in the nature park.

Inom
Architect-Designer from Tajikistan
2006-2007

Inom initially received 4 months training in Tajikistan, where III has its branch office. There he realized his potential, but also the fact that to learn more about the world, he has to leave his home country and go abroad. After that decision was made, he came for 5 months training to SDS/III office in Florida. Here he rapidly improved his English that was initially slowing him down and once English stopped to be his main limiting factor, he could apply his architectural and designing skills on various technical assignments, for example in designing boardwalks or Environmental Education Center for LaBelle Nature Park.

As a Tajik citizen, he also helped to move forward with SDS/III’s development project on improving water situation in his home country.

Inom visiting one of the near by ranches.

Tosan during an educational tour to coal-fired power plant in US.

Tosan
Environmental and Energy Engineer from Nigeria
2006-2007

Tosan was responsible during her 6 months training for handling Pelaez ranch tasks and daily chores related to that project.

She was responsible for collecting surface and ground water samples, their preparation and analysis in a laboratory, preparing chains of custody forms, programming autosamplers, replacing sampler bottles and many other parts of the data collection process. Tosan handled all aspects of the research project with dignity and a professional attitude. She also helped train and supervise the more junior trainees, gaining management experience.

Upon completion of her training with SDS/III, Tosan was offered a research assistant position with University of Florida in Gainesville, where she will continue to develop her skills and talents in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department.

Viacheslav
Metallurgical Engineer from Russia
2006-2007

Viacheslav has been closely involved in initial development of Carbon Capture project, which is aimed at promoting advanced technologies for reducing CO2 emissions and their contributions to global warming.

He helped with scientific presentations preparation, developed parts of the project website and drafted several proposals.

As an engineer with IT skills, he also developed many AutoCAD drawings for several local engineering and environmental projects.

Viacheslav dreams about building a strong cooperation bridge between Russia and US.

Daniel in the office testing telemetry stations connectivity.

Daniel
Chemical Engineer from Ghana
2006

Daniel contributed to field research project at Pelaez ranch with unique leadership and persistence. At first, as a chemical engineer, he was responsible for collecting, preparing and analyzing surface and subsurface water samples.

But with time, he also undertook the challenge and assumed the position of a team leader with responsibility for maintaining all mechanical and electrical components of the programmable water samplers, maintaining installed telemetry stations and preparing various SOP's for future trainees to use.

Daniel handled his duties that encompassed several specializations each and every day. He measured up very well against the demanding expectations of Dr. Capece.

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Getnet
Agricultural Science and Natural Resource Manager from Ethiopia
2006

Getnet was one of the most hardworking trainees ever hosted at the SDS/III office. He helped with project management for non-profit organizations Rotary International, Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association and Alpha Epsilon Lambda. Getnet produced two grant proposals for Village Water Supply projects in Central Asia and was invited to participate in the Rotary International Water Summit in Houston, Texas.

He also created several high-quality exhibits and slide presentations describing regional projects. Getnet demonstrated that with hard work it is possible to accomplish much in just a three-month traineeship.

Getnet receives a recognition certificate
from Rotary International for his
contributions to the Central Asia
Village Water Supply project.

Anneline in the Big Cypress Swamp.

Anneline
Geo-Engineer from France
2005-2006

Anneline came to an internship in Florida actually twice - her contributions during her first three-month training proved that she was very resourceful and focused. Her skills in soil and fluid mechanics and hydraulic modeling were successfully applied to the Caloosahatchee river oxbow restoration projects.

After completing her first SDS/III traineeship, Anneline returned back home to France, however wanted to train more with us, recognizing new opportunities that appear with high-quality training. Therefore she began later on a second training program with SDS/III in Florida, where she was managing another oxbow restoration project and performing related flow and sediment transport modeling.

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Ahmed
Chemical Engineer from Pakistan
2005-2006

Ahmed came to Florida from Canada. Ahmed demonstrated outstanding talents in both technical and administrative areas. He was responsible for various field data collection and office research projects. One moment he might be trouble-shooting software and telemetry/control systems, the next minute he was researching waste management systems and drafting new county ordinances for adoption by the local governing boards. Ahmed did not hesitate to take on any challenge.

Ahmed's exceptional skill and professionalism naturally caused the other his peers to look to him for direction and guidance. During his six month traineeship, he was an effective communicator and collaborator.
 

Ahmed helping to haul off fallen trees
after the visit of Hurricane Wilma.

Cindy at the Universal Studios Florida

Cindy
Journalist from United Kingdom
2005-2006

Cindy studied media and journalism at the University of Sunderland, England. In Florida she got training as a community journalist among our group of primarily engineers and scientists. In addition to writing several economics and science articles for local newspapers, Cindy was assigned to get training in grant writing, public relations, and non-profit organization management (Rotary International, Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association , and Alpha Epsilon Lambda).

Cindy assisted in preparing and delivering presentations on river restoration projects to hundreds of school children and presenting the CentralAsiaWater.org project to Rotary clubs throughout Florida. She was the group's events organizer. Cindy also demonstrated a high degree of responsibility in getting to presentations scheduled at very challenging times and at very distant locations.

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Lars
Radio and Television Journalist from the Netherlands
2005-2006

Lars applied his artistic and technical talents in producing, editing, and distributing the Oxbow 24 Opening Ceremony video. Lars proved himself to be a uniquely dedicated video journalist. He burned the midnight oil in producing a documentary about the problems of the Caloosahatchee River, titled "Endangered" for his university degree project. Lars took a sincere interest in learning about and addressing the important water and environmental issues of South Florida. He created various video clips supporting the naming of the Caloosahatchee River to America's Ten Most Endangered Rivers of 2006.

Lars preparing to tape another interview
for his river documentary.

Oumnia during a recreation trip to Miami.

Oumnia
Electrical Engineer from Morocco
2005

Oumnia came from France, where she attended her first year Master's degree at Belfort University. In her three months of summer traineeship, as the data specialist she was assigned to get training in the Pelaez and Queen Bee projects and focused her training activities on field data collection (water sampling and hydrologic measurements) and maintenance of the automatic water samplers.

She studied water sampler hardware to understand the instruments that create the overall data acquisition system and also suggested several electrical design improvements.

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Ricardo
Civil Engineer from Brazil
2005

Ricardo came to SDS/III from an Aerospace University in Sao Paulo. While somewhat out of his element, he did an excellent job at his river oxbow restoration project assignment. During his five-month traineeship, Ricardo prepared RFB (Request for Bids) and RFQ (Requests for Qualifications) documents; researched and tested geofabrics; collected hydrological and water quality field data, performed land/water surveys, and designed much of the channel dredging project. Ricardo added his unique contributions to an innovative design for shoreline projection structures.

Ricardo with a baby gator in Everglades.

Regis at the Bahia Honda State Park
(lower Florida Keys)

Regis
Engineer from France
2005

Regis with his high tech skills became invaluable to SDS/III projects during his four-month program participation. He was responsible for installation and maintenance of field instrumentation, sensors, data-loggers, and various other telemetry system components.

He also integrated the research data into a comprehensive database for statistical analysis. He served as team leader for field data collection tasks, while also providing computer technical support to the office staff.

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Vladimir
International Managemer from Uzbekistan
2005

Vladimir developed and delivered presentations to Rotary clubs throughout Florida promoting an international service project. His dedicated attitude to the assigned tasks made him the most valuable member of the team in the summer of 2005 and has propelled the Village Water Supply project into a national-level program that has, so far, raised funds to provide clean water systems for more than 25 remote villages in Tajikistan, Central Asia.

Vladimir earned his Master Degree from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark on International Marketing and Management. After completing his traineeship, he went to Canada to continue his education.

Vladimir at one of his Rotary Club presentations.

Xinyan at the Disney EPCOT Aquarium

Xinyan
Business manager from China
2005

Xinyan came for a four-month training in the summer of 2005. His focus was tax and managerial accounting but he also helped other trainees with their projects, including creation of an asset tracking database for Hendry County. He collected GPS and GIS-based data on road and bridge infrastructure. His primary accomplishments were to set up a series of financial procedures and tax returns for the traineeship program.

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Henrik
Electrical Engineer from Germany
2005

Henrik was a trainee for 4 months starting in January 2005. He was the instrumentation specialist responsible for setting up and maintaining a system of remote water samplers, water level and flow sensors, weather measurements stations, and telemetry hardware linked to Internet databases.

Henrik's quiet, steady determination and professionalism set the ideal example for the group of program participants. Henrik became the senior project trainee for the second half of his traineeship and led his team during this time.

Henrik exploring the Florida wilderness
on a canoe trip down Fisheating Creek.

Aurelie at one of the ranch sites the day
after one of the Florida hurricanes of 2004.

Aurelie
Engineer from France
2004-2005

Aurelie was a trainee during 6 months starting in the summer of 2004, the year when 4 hurricanes passed through the state.

She and other SDS/III trainees would spring in to action immediately on the heels of the storms, traveling to the flooded sites to measure the water flow and chemical quality. In her last two months, Aurelie assumed primary responsibility for the sampling and instrumentation projects. As part of her duties she would organize the team of 8 program participants for the day-long field site data collection trips.

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Masahiro
Economict from Japan
2004

Masahiro came for a brief traineeship during his summer break from attending University of California - Irvine. His primary responsibility was to manage the office finances including receipts, disbursements, expense accounting, and preparation of annual corporate tax returns.

He studied and mastered the QuickBooks Pro accounting software as his primary a digital tool. Masahiro would also assist other program participants as a member of their field data collection team.

Masahiro managing the office finances using
the Quickbooks Pro software system.

Daniel at a meeting of the Caloosahatchee River
Citizens Association meeting, for which he served
as a member of the board of directors.

Daniel
Political Scientist from England
2004

Daniel served as a trainee for six months...which must have seemed like at least twice that to Daniel, given the double-duty he did as both a guest lecturer in the local schools and as the co-author of the UzbekWater.net grant proposal. Having an undergraduate degree in American Studies and a graduate degree in Democracy Studies ideally prepared Daniel to design and write components of the new project proposal.

Upon completion of the document, Daniel traveled to Washington, DC and New York City with Dr. Abror Gadaev to present the proposal to USAID, World Bank, United Nations, and various foundations.

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Eliane
Electrical Engineer from Cameroon
2004

For three months during the summer of 2004 Eliane was engaged in instrumentation and data collection activities for the Kirton Ranch project.

She learned how to maintain and repair the circuits of the sampler control unit. She also assisted with water sample collection and processing, including SOP development, chain of custody creation, and general data records management.

Eliane in the office where she processes water
samples from the ranch pollutions studies.

Weerachai at the river house.

Weerachai
Mechanical Engineer from Thailand

Weerachai served as a trainee for five months during which he methodically and quietly developed his understanding of SDS/III projects and procedures.

By the last month of his program participation, Weerachai became the internal coordinator for all other program participants, taking responsibility and leadership in preparing and conducting most field experiment project tasks and trips. As a mechanical engineer he also developed designs and prototypes for new water sampler components.

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Abror
Civil Engineering Professor from Uzbekistan
2004

Abror came to SDS/III in an effort to make the most of his time in the USA after delivering a technical presentation at the American Water Resources Association. He spent 4 months developing a project proposal for his university and a web page, www.UzbekWater.Net, documenting water projects in Uzbekistan, Central Asia and the Aral Sea region.

Upon returning to his university, Professor Abror Gadaev was assigned to develop a new department and area of study focusing on engineering training for disaster response, natural or otherwise. He continues to remain involved with the training program in pursuit of educational opportunities for students from his nation.

Abror touring citrus industry to study
irrigation systems.

Mike crossing the USA on one of his annual road trips.

Michal
Geographer from Czech Republic
2003-2004

Mike contributed more to SDS/III projects than any other of the 125 program participants before him. During his 17-month traineeship he was a data analysis and report writing machine, while also helping with field programs whenever needed. By the time of his departures he had produced several project final reports and many more progress and data reports. He was also the glue that held the trainee group together, welcoming all new arrivals and helping out whenever they need assistance with their projects.

Mike also has a talent for photography and as a geographer, he made it his mission to travel to as many corners of the USA as possible during his training breaks. Upon completion of his traineeship, Mike was elected as a director of Intelligentsia International, Inc. and is serving as an international programs coordinator traveling to water development projects in Europe and Asia.

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Benjamin
Environmental Engineer from Australia
2003-2004

Benjamin created and earned for himself one of the most diverse traineeship ever accomplished at SDS/III. His primary focus was planning for the first-ever Caloosahatchee River oxbow restoration project. But during his 6-month program he also gained experience in water quality sampling standard operating procedures, organized field trips, delivered lectures to civic groups and school classes, served as a project development liaison with state government agencies, authored technical reports for research projects, analyzed ground water dynamics data sets, and developed a new project scopes.

Upon returning to Australia, after his traineeship, he quickly found employment with a world-class company that develops geographic pathways and social impact plans for high speed rail systems throughout the world.

Benjamin exploring his oxbow restoration site.

Sanjay testing new controllers and software.

Sanjay
Electrical Engineer from India
2003 and again 2005

Sanjay is another of the exceptionally talented and hardworking engineers that SDS/III has been fortunate to host. As an electrical engineer from Illinois Institute of Technology, Sanjay's contributions during his first 4-month program participation and his second 6-month traineeship were extremely critical to the field instrumentation and control systems of the automatic water samplers. He is an engineer who does it all: performs design calculations, builds and tests prototypes, fabricates the production units, and then personally installs the final systems... with enthusiasm. Together with other skilled trainees, including Jurgen from Germany, designed and built water samplers placed on farms near the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee. Sanjay's technical skills, demonstrated positive attitude, high degree of focus, and absolute personal integrity makes him the type of team member that any company would be fortunate to hire.

Upon graduation from Illinois Institute of Technology Sanjay was immediately offered a design and development position with Motorola.

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Moctar
Irrigation Engineer from Niger
2003

Moctar led a team of trainees in the task of preparing the final report to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the demonstration project at MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center. This 300-page report documented results from the 3-year project to study the effects of cattle grazing on pasture lands runoff water quality. After completing his traineeship at SDS/III, Moctar was hired to serve as the first water utility engineer for Hendry County. In addition to his responsibilities for designing water supply system for the community of Port LaBelle, Moctar provides engineering services for regional roads, bridges, and airport.

Moctar earned his Master of Science from Utah State University Biological and Irrigation Engineering Department.

Moctar reviewing his project report.

Rustam on his first snorkeling experience at the
Pennekamp State Park in the Florida Keys.

Rustam
Petroleum Industry Engineer from Tajikistan
2003

Rustam is an engineer's engineer. His curiosity and thirst for new knowledge and skills proved endless. He embraced each new challenge as an opportunity to learn and do. Rustam was equally capable and energetic with mechanical design, CAD renderings, machine shop fabrication, field equipment maintenance, electronics circuit analysis and repair, power system maintenance, data acquisition systems and software, GPS technology, and water quality sampling. On each trip to the ranch experiment site, Rustam was the one trainee still in the field focused intensely on his tasks when everyone else (including Dr. Capece) was exhausted and ready to go home.

After completing his undergraduate degree in Turkey, Rustam returned home to Tajikistan where has started a new company, Silkroad Science and Engineering, as a joint venture with other former trainees and Dr. Capece. Its first local project is described at www.OurWater.net/rotary.

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Loubna
Electronics Engineer from Morocco
2003

Loubna came to SDS/III not directly from Morocco but from France where she attends Universite de Technologie de Belfort-Montebeliard. She came with her best friend and fellow engineering student Hanane for a 6-month traineeship.

Together they met the challenges of their five month training in which they focused on the power systems and control units of the 51 automatic water samplers deployed at Kirton Ranch. Loubna developed procedures for the maintenance and operations of the electrical systems. Hanane and Loubna also were assigned to the water sampling and other project training.

Loubna on a tour of the Disney EPCOT Land
Pavillion's agricultural technology facilities.

Tony calibrating sensors at Kirton Ranch.

Tony
Computer Scientist from Connecticut
2003

Versatility combined with high tech skills and a "can-do" attitude made Tony invaluable to SDS/III projects during his summer training. He installed instruments, programmed dataloggers, calibrated sensors, maintained telemetry systems and improved the online databases. He also helped with other aspects of the field experiments: water sample collection, vegetation sampling, equipment maintenance, and anything else that needed doing. As a student from Southern Connecticut State University, Tony was the sole American within the group of 14 international program participants at SDS/III during the summer of 2003. He is the type of person that Americans like to think we are...or can become.

After his 3-month taste of Florida, this Yankee decided to move south and transfer to Florida Gulf Coast University to complete his degree.

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Jayant
Computer Engineer from India
2003

Taking the summer off from studying at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Jay developed skills in network and database administration at SDS/III for the summer of 2003. While Jay is Indian by heritage, he is truly an international citizen having grown up in Zambia.

Jay managed network and domain security, maintained telemetry systems, set up MySQL databases and created some online graphics utilities that allow SDS/III scientists to monitor and visualize far-off experiment sites in near real time, allowing the scientists and technicians to focus on data analysis rather than time-consuming data processing. His professionalism and technical skills were far beyond those of your typical 21 year old undergraduate.

Jay bringing in his dinner.

Olha playing in the mud at Kirton Ranch.

Olha
Industrial Ecologist from Ukraine
2003

No assignment was too large for Olha. She arrived just when things started getting busy for the Kirton Ranch project. With the summer rains came the task of collecting surface and ground water samples and preparing them for delivery to the University of Florida lab. Olha along with other trainees refined and expanded the water quality sampling standard operating procedures (SOP). During her 3-month traineeship she also prepared project progress and data reports for the South Florida Water Management District.

Olha came to SDS/III from University of Idaho where she is pursuing a graduate degree in environmental science as a Freedom Support Act Muskie Fellow.

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Paul
Environmental Scientist from Ghana
2003

During his brief 2-month program, Paul assisted with the treatment implementation, field activities, and sampler maintenance of the experiments at the Kirton Ranch and Chandler Ranch. His serious attitude to the training made him the most valuable member of the research team in the Spring of 2003. Paul is a true team player, never hesitant to take the major responsibilities alongside Dr. Capece to make the projects succeed.

Upon completing his traineeship Paul returned to Denmark to complete his degree program.

Paul checking the sampler at Candler Ranch.

Michela on a trip to NASA.

Michela
Journalist from England
2002-2003

During her 14-month traineeship, Michela documented the public interest issues and technical debates behind the environmental projects pursued by Southern DataStream. She researched and wrote newspaper and magazine articles as part of the Watershed Council series. Michela also dealt with projects for various non-profit organizations: AEL, AWRA, and CRCA. For the final months of her traineeship she served as the trainees' coordinator.

Michela became a valued part of the community and was granted membership in the LaBelle chapter of Rotary International. Upon completion of her traineeship she went on to employment in nearby Ft. Myers.

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Jurate
Engineer from Lithuania
2001-2003

During her unprecedented 18-month program participation, Jurate served as the data specialist for the MAERC project. She is now married to an American, Eric Meister. She is now employed in LaBelle as the GIS specialist for the Hendry County Engineer (Road and Bridge Department). Jurate set the standard of patience, persistence and attention to detail by which all other trainees are now measured.

Her traineeship was extended to 18 months after she demonstrated incredible dedication to the MAERC research project during her initial traineeship. Wedding photos are also posted for all her friends.

Jurate at the Chandler Slough project site.

Stefan on a cruise through the river oxbows.

Stefan
Software Engineer from Germany
2002

Stefan was a trainee of few words but many lines of code. During his six months at SDS/III, Stefan developed and installed the Kirton Ranch telemetry system and created the associated online database. This was a key contribution to the project that allows near real-time visualization of the data collection systems for the project weather stations, sensors, and 51 automated water samplers.

Upon completing his degree, Stefan obtained US permanent residency and returned to LaBelle to continue his professional career.

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Novry
Industrial Engineer from Indonesia
2002

Before finishing the last year of he graduate degree at Oklahoma State University, Novry undertook a summer training at SDS/III. She managed traineeship marketing and application processing, including the development of database resources. Novry also conducted legal research to create agreement language and documents.

After completing her degree Novry returned to LaBelle where she is now employed by the Country Home and Land company where she analyzes business operations and designs and develops technological support systems.

Novry at Tyrell Gardens in LaBelle.

Ramy with Astronaut Jon McBride at NASA.

Ramy
Mechanical Engineer from Lebanon
2002

During his 3-month program participation, Ramy focused on the maintenance and redesign of the SDS/III automatic water samplers. He conducted maintenance and equipment installation tasks at the research project site (Kirton Ranch). Ramy also studied the use of the CR10 dataloggers and developed software for integrating various electronic sensors into hydrological monitoring stations.

His last assignment was to initiate testing of the SDS/III prototype samplers at the University of Florida Department of Agricultural Engineering laboratories in Gainesville.

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Catalina
Environmental Engineer from Colombia
2002

During her 3-month traineeship Catalina made important contributions to SDS/III projects, while she grew in her professional skills and confidence. Catalina's primary project was to learn about and assist with water quality sampling procedures (SOPs) for Kirton Ranch. She accomplished this cooperating in parnership with another environmental engineering trainee, Elif Songun from Turkey. These formal procedures are required for all government-funded research projects. In addition to developing the methods, Catalina selected and purchased all the necessary sampling and measurement equipment.

Upon completion of her traineeship, Catalina continued with languages studies in Miami and then returned to Colombia where she presented her project results and received her engineering degree.

Catalina Barreneche at the office.

Yaw Sun in Key West

Yaw Sun
Civil Engineer from Singapore
2002

Yaw Sun served as a trainee for 3 months, but it probably seemed longer than that to him, given all the training challenges he took on. He contributed in high-class manner to the Kirton Ranch project - along with a team of other trainees, Yaw Sun helped install the 51 water samplers and monitoring wells.

In addition to his field activities, Yaw Sun developed a report comparing mathematical methods for estimating evapotranspiration from weather parameters as part of the FHANTM hydrological modeling project. He also studied the XP-SWMM hydraulic model in preparation for a new engineering design study.

Yaw Sun was perhaps the most devoted trainee ever hosted by SDS/III. Yaw Sun's unique ability to excel at both his field activities and his hydrological analysis project proved that this young engineer will let no obstacle stand in the way of his professional goals.

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Aigba
Economist from Nigeria
2002

Aigba set the record for departing with more baggage than any other trainee. But she had good reason for the extra boxes and suitcases...she had to pack all the necessary supplies for her wedding scheduled only weeks after her return home.

During her 3-month traineeship, Aigba managed SDS/III finances and trained other program participants as well. She learned how to use standard U.S. small business accounting software and how to prepare federal and state tax forms for non-profit and for-profit corporations. Aigba also took time to become involved in the community by participating in the local church groups.

Aigba at her campus in Ghana.

Carlos in the SDS/III workshop with Volkan.

Carlos
Electrical Engineer from Brazil
2001

Carlos accomplished much during his 12 months with SDS/III. He arrived with marginal English skills but departed with an excellent command of the language. Carlos came to Florida with his cousin Edward and his friend Nicolai. Together they designed and built the electronic control units for the SDS/III water samplers and also assembled the flume systems prior to their installation at the Kirton Ranch water quality project site. He also developed a preliminary conceptual design for the hydrological instrumentation telemetry system.

Carlos completed other engineering projects, including development of a sugarcane freeze prediction and mapping system for the U.S. Sugar Corporation. As part of this effort, Carlos trained himself in the operation of the ArcView GIS software system. His last project was the creation of a road and bridge assets valuation and management system for the regional governmental engineering office.

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Nick
History scientist from England
2001

Nick's addition to the group of his peers represented an attempt to diversify the SDS/III emphasis on engineers by promoting attention to sociological and political aspects of the training.  Nick developed a seminar series in which all trainees presented both the technical and social aspects of their traineeship experience. His personal seminar, coincidentally scheduled for September 11, 2001 provided an opportunity for the group of 15 SDS/III trainees to gather and discuss events of the day and attempt to make sense of this terrible event in U.S. and international history.

Nick's technical contribution to SDS/III was the development and submission of a project and grant proposal for a mentorship program between local school students and the SDS/III program participants. Nick firmly believes that his experience with SDS/III opened up new professional opportunities to him upon his return home.

Marlene, always focused on the task
at hand at her desk.

Marlene
Environmental Engineer from France
2001

During her 3-month training, Marlene Canetti produced the C-11653 official work plan and DEP quality assurance plan. Both are standard government documents required of all environmental research projects in Florida.

This assignment required that she learns all aspects of the research project and integrate those plans with existing regulations of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District.

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Thiago
Environmental Engineer from Brazil
2001

Thiago is one of those people who can't help but smile and thus turn any situation into a positive experience. Such an unflappable positive attitude is particularly helpful when facing the challenge to design and construct 55 hydrological measurement flumes and samplers. Together with Stephane from Switzerland, Thiago started the process which eventually led to the establishment of the nationally-unique hydrological research facility at Kirton Ranch.

Thiago's traineeship also demonstrated and further developed his unique talent for creating teaching tools and instructional materials as exemplified by his attention to detailed process descriptions.
 

Thiago (right) with trainee extraordinaire Stefan
from Switzerland.

Andrea at SDS/III trainees reunion in Brazil.

Andrea
Civil Engineer from Italy
2000

For 12 months Andrea was a hydraulics trainee handling a variety of training assignments. Initially Andrea restored a set of hydrological monitoring stations at the MacArthur Agroecology Research Center. He replaced and calibrated all the proximity and pump sensors. Next, Andrea and another trainee, Olli Neumann, developed the core hydraulic design concept for the SDS/III automatic water samplers.

Andrea was then given a very challenging assignment, to develop a hydraulics model of the stormwater runoff in the City of Cape Coral, known as the American Venice because of its extensive network of canals. This project, conducted in cooperation using the XP-SWMM model, resulted in Andrea being offered a professional-level permanent job at Boyle Engineering Corporation, another partner in the Cape Coral project.

However, Andrea was determined to build his career back home. Andrea is now gainfully employed as a hydraulic modeling engineer in Italy...except when he is traveling throughout the world visiting some of his former trainee colleagues and friends from his days at SDS/III.

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Isaac
Software Engineer from Ghana
2000 and again 2004-2005

Isaac is the perfect example of determination overcoming all. When posed with a formidable assignment to develop graphical applications for the Palm OS platform, Isaac focused like a laser beam on acquiring the specific skills required to meet the project goals. Isaac was based in Gainesville for much of his program where he cooperated with another trainee, Ronald Hellriegel from Germany.

Upon completing his training program, Isaac returned to Denmark to complete his Masters degree. He then returned to Florida in 2004 for a second traineeship as the IT manager for Southern DataStream and as a GIS analyst for the Hendry County Engineering office.

Isaac...ready to take on the world.

Claudia snorkeling in the Florida Keys.

Claudia
Environmental Engineer from Italy
2000

Claudia served as an engineer for six months. She is one the most exceptional trainees ever hosted by SDS/III. An incredibly dedicated, meticulous engineer and researcher, Claudia also was the perfect housemate to the other trainees...a great cook and always seeking travel and adventure.

Claudia's first assignment was to develop the literature review and work plan for the C-11653 project for the South Florida Water Management District. This assignment required that she spend a month at the University of Florida in Gainesville so as to have access to their library resources.

Upon returning to LaBelle and completing the training plan, Claudia then began undertook on the Cape Coral XP-SWMM model training assignment. She cooperated with Andrea on this effort until her departure.

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Catherine
Geographer from England
1999-2000

Someone had to be the first trainee and it was Catherine. During her 8-month program participation, Catherine produced the video documenting the UF-SDS project at Buck Island Ranch for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. She handled a variety of other projects including the creation of a web page for the CYDA school in Clewiston.

After completing her training she was hired to become a certified teacher for the Hendry County School District. She returned to England after marrying another former SDS/III program participant. In October, 2003, the couple had a son. The new family now lives in London.

Catherine and husband, former program
participant Edward from Brazil.