Laboratory Symposium draws 114 specialists

One-hundred-fourteen water laboratory specialists met at the 41st annual Laboratory Symposium hosted by the Hygienic Laboratory on April 27 at the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny.

The one-day workshop included actual ethical scenarios, the impact of the flood of 2008, legislative updates, laboratory disaster preparedness, new methodologies, and other essential lab practices.

Maryann Ryan, laboratory supervisor at the City of Ames water and wastewater laboratory, commented on the audience interaction during the ethical scenarios.

"They split the audience into groups to come up with solutions to present ethical situations," Ryan said. "I thought it was a nice touch."

Chemists and laboratory specialists, water and wastewater operators, consultants, and other environmental professionals from across Iowa and nearby states attended the symposium.

Lee Friell manager of the Ankeny Laboratory.