Armour Students Visit Shedd Aquarium for Behind-the-Scenes Tour
On April 9, 2014 Armour College of Engineering students got a unique behind-the-scenes look at the John G. Shedd Aquarium. Mr. Allen LaPointe, Vice President of Environmental Quality at the Shedd, led the private tour.
After being led through a pair of “Restricted Access” doors, students were shown the quarantine tanks that sick creatures are placed in to isolate them from the rest of the population. Mr. LaPointe explained how the tanks have separate filtration systems from the rest of the aquarium to keep all of the healthy fish safe.
Some animals at the aquarium are not on display because they are mating, molting, or hibernating. The area where these animals are housed was shown next on the tour. There were turtles, frogs, birds, crickets (aka food), and of course fish! The students were even able to touch a few fish in one of the tanks.
The next stop on the tour was the water quality laboratory. This lab was a hive of activity with workers in white lab coats and goggles busily processing water samples. Samples are taken daily from each tank and analyzed to ensure the condition of the water is optimal for each unique species. Lab workers also study the microbial life found in the water. The aquarium is currently part of a study that monitors and compares the microscopic life in the water in aquariums all over the world. The goal of the study is to improve the aquarium’s water by more accurately recreating the conditions found in natural habitats.
The last area the group was shown on the tour, was where municipal water is held in giant tanks waiting to be mixed with salt in order to mimic seawater. Ocean water used to be delivered to the aquarium by train, but is now made onsite to reduce costs. A vast network of pipes takes this newly created saltwater to be dispersed in the aquariums saltwater tanks. This area also houses the tanks, pipes, and filters that treat the water the aquarium uses before it is released into the city’s wastewater removal system.
Overall, the tour was an educational journey. The students were able to see the Shedd Aquarium from a perspective most engineers could only dream of. Allen LaPointe was an informative and entertaining speaker that was able to give students an inside look at the processes that take place to give the wonderful creatures on display a safe and healthy home. He also made it a point to welcome Armour College of Engineering back in the Fall semester.
