Two UVI Process Technology students, Ambica Balkaran and Ebitare Oyake, will make presentations based on recent internship with local companies at the Caribbean Desalination Association Conference to be held at Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star Beach Resort on St. Thomas, from June 24 to 27. The Caribbean Desalination Association is a non-profit organization with members and sponsors from the Caribbean desalination and water reuse communities including utilities, industries, academia and government.
Balkaran's presentation is entitled “VIWAPA Replaces Costly Thermal Desalination with Reverse Osmosis Desalination.” Her presentation is based on an internship with Seven Seas Water at the Water and Power Authority’s Richmond Power Station on St. Croix. Oyake's presentation is entitled “Rum Distillery Waste Water Treatment - Using Ultra Filtration and Reversed Osmosis Technology.” His research focused on processes employed by the Diageo which produces Captain Morgan Rum on St. Croix.
Both students are mentored by Assistant Professor of Process Technology Eric Douglas on UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Douglas said the Process Technology program, which currently has 25 students enrolled, requires each student to complete a minimum six-week internship to graduate with an associate’s degree. He said the internships provide both practical experience and industry contacts for the students. He also noted that process technicians are in demand by a wide variety of industries, both locally, and worldwide. For more information contact Douglas at (340) 690-9533.