Constantin Moraru traveled all the way from the Republic ofMoldova to come to Memphis. But it's not Elvis or Beale Street thathe's interested in -- Moraru wants to know about Memphis'sgroundwater.
At the end of August, Moraru joined the staff and students ofthe Herff College of Engineering's Ground Water Institute as aFulbright scholar conducting research on water quality.
The Fullbright program is the U.S. government's flagship programin international exchange. The program promotes mutualunderstanding between the United States and people of othernations.
"Having a Fulbright scholar visit The University also gives adegree of credibility to the engineering department," said JerryAnderson, director of the institute. "Moraru has been in a positionto use practically applied knowledge, not just theoretical. Moraruhas a wealth of experience that offers our students the chance tolearn from him."
Moraru directs the hydrogeology laboratory at the Institute ofGeophysics and Geology at the Academy of Sciences in Chisinau,Moldova.
Though he is qualified to teach, Moraru will not be foundstanding in front of a classroom giving a lecture on thecharacteristics of ground water. Instead he will spend the eightmonths of his stay at The University of Memphis working to preparea report to be presented when he returns home. The report willoutline what stes his country should take to improve its waterquality.
Moldova is a densely populated country in the former SovietUnion whose economy is driven by agriculture. Excessive use ofpesticides has polluted ground water in the region. High levels ofselenium are also present in the public water supply wells.
Moraru said Moldova has a lot of problems with water quality,and he hopes to learn technology used in the Mid-South to cultivatea better understanding of the link that exists between waterquality and human actions.
While in Memphis, Moraru will study our aquifer system, which isthe primary water source for much of the Mid-South, to gaininformation he can take back with him to Moldova.
"I am looking to western countries to develop a system thatintegrates American and European methods of water quality control,"he said.
So far, Moraru has already begun working with students andresearchers at the Ground Water Institute. Researchers of theinstitute are writing a visual basic program to help Moraruorganize the data he collects.
Not only is Moraru's visit expected to benefit his country,Anderson said his visit would also give students and staff anopportunity to experience a different culture and learn fromMoraru's experiences.
"It's an across-the-lands opportunity to exchange information,"Anderson said. "It will offer us a chance to broaden ourexperiences."
