Don Johnson Here are some articles from Spring 1974 Daily Egyptians. The “environmental issues” were just starting to really become apparent to the general population and a number of us students, of course, had our own ideas. Richard Archer put together a “class” and we came up with a number of projects. We exhibited them in the spring with the help of the Student Environmental Center. For many years after graduation from SIU I stayed away from the environmental scene, focusing mainly on the design and construction of recreational boats. However that experience eventually brought me back to environmental services when I was hired by a company (Elastec Inc.) that produced oil skimmers. They needed someone to develop an aluminum boat line to deliver their equipment into oil spills. I spent 3 months in the gulf during the BP spill of 2010. That spill prompted the X Prize group to hold a competition to come up with an improved oil skimmer. I was the project manager/team leader to design and build a skimmer to enter into the competition. There were about 350 entries from 12 different countries. Our team won the competition by developing and building a skimmer that, when tested, picked up 4680 gallons per minute of oil off the surface of the water at a 90% efficiency. That skimmer was deemed one of the “Most Hopeful Energy Developments of 2011” by the National Geographic Society. After that I turned my sights on litter. Working on the design of different equipment to help stop trash from going from ditches to streams to rivers to oceans. Then covid hit and I decided it was time to retire. Now I am enjoying retirement out in the country here in southern Illinois, constantly working in the shop. Thank you for your website and helping bring back some memories of the Department … good old days … smiles dj