Dr. Karl H. Schoenbach; Professor and Eminent Scholar

• Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University
• Batten Endowed Chair Bioelectics Engineering
• Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics

Dr. Schoenbach received the Diploma degree in physics and the Dr.rer.nat. degree in physics in 1966 and 1970, respectively, from the Technische Hochschule Darmstadt (THD), Germany. From 1970 to 1978, he was working at the THD in the areas of high pressure gas discharge physics and on the dense plasma focus. From 1979 to 1985, he held a faculty position at Texas Tech University, where he was involved in research on fast opening switches, especially electron-beam and laser controlled diffuse discharge opening switches.

In 1985, he joined Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. He served as Director of the Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics from 2002 to 2008. He was active in research on photoconductive switches until 1993, and has now concentrated his research efforts on high-pressure glow discharges, glow (streamer) discharges in liquids, and on environmental and medical applications of pulse power technology, and continues to be actively involved in bioelectrics research.

He has chaired a number of workshops and conferences, among them the 1991 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, and the First International Symposium on "Nonthermal Medial/Biological Treatments Using Electromagnetic Fields and Ionized Gases" (ElectroMed99) in 1999. He was elected Fellow of IEEE in 1994 for "contributions to the research and development of very-high-power electronic devices", and received the 2000 High Voltage Award sponsored by the Dielectric and Electrical Insulation Society of the IEEE, and the Peter Haas Pulsed Power Award in 2007.

He has published nearly 400 papers in refereed journals and in conference proceedings and holds 15 patents. He has been an associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science since 1989, guest editor of the IEEE Transactions on Electron-Devices (1990), the IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (1999), the IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation (2003). He is co-editor of books on "Low Temperature Plasma Physics" (2001 and 2007 (2nd edition)), and on "Atmospheric Pressure Air Plasmas" (2004).

Kathleen M. Trauth, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Trauth is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Missouri and a licensed professional engineer in New Mexico and Missouri. She received her B.S. in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University.

Focusing on topics within water resources, her research includes engineering responses to regulatory requirements and opportunities, primarily in the area of surface water quality and related environmental implications. Research methodologies often utilize multiple information sources analyzed using geographic information systems. She and her graduate students have published research results in various journals, including the American Society of Civil Engineers' journals of 'Water Resources Planning and Management' and 'Urban Planning and Development.'

Dr. Trauth instructs courses on surface water hydrology, hydraulics, water quality modeling and environmental regulatory compliance and advises graduate and undergraduate students in their research projects. Her professional service activities include serving as a journal reviewer and conference session moderator. At the University level, she serves as the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and is active in external activities seeking to encourage young women to pursue engineering.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Missouri, Dr. Trauth held the position of Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM. In that position she had responsibilities related to the long-term regulatory compliance assessments of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and the Yucca Mountain Project. Drawing upon her work at Sandia, Dr. Trauth is also the founding faculty advisor for the student chapter of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management at the University of Missouri and collaborates with the national organization in efforts to ensure a sufficient workforce for nuclear materials safeguards. Upon receipt of her doctorate, and prior to her service at Sandia, Dr. Trauth gained regulatory experience as a project engineer in a wastewater construction program at the New Mexico Environment Department.

Paul O'Callaghan

Mr. O'Callaghan is the founder and CEO of O2 Environmental Inc., a Director with Ionic Water Technologies, and an industry expert reviewer for both Sustainable Development Canada and the Innovative Clean Energy Fund. Mr. O'Callaghan is a BlueTech investment analyst and author in the water sector for Global Water Intelligence, "Water Technology Markets - key opportunities and emerging trends". This report, published in July 2009, identified the best growth opportunities in the water sector including introduction of new technology and treatment processes.

Mr. O'Callaghan works on the development and commercialization of a range of environmental technologies including nutrient recovery processes, UV disinfection, sludge destruction and energy efficient aeration technologies. He has worked with technology start-ups Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies, Microsludge, MicroDynamics UV and Aquacritox to take their technologies from proof of concept to commercialization. His comprehensive technical and market expertise, gained in both Europe and North America, provides a unique international perspective on new emerging technology opportunities.

Mr. O'Callaghan holds a Masters Degree in Water Resource Management and has fourteen years experience in the environmental technology industry He has lectured on Sustainable Energy at the BC Institute of Technology and on Environmental Protection Technology at Kwantlen University Polytechnic, Vancouver. He has authored and presented numerous papers on emerging treatment technologies and is currently Chair of a British Columbia technical committee on wastewater treatment. Mr. O'Callaghan is an active member of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA).