TESTING THE WATERS
According to the EPA, PPCPs are emerging contaminants of concern “that are increasingly being found at low levels in surface water,” while PFAS are “widely used, long-lasting chem- icals with components that break down very slowly over time.” Current scientific research shows that both of these contami- nants, depending on the level of exposure, can lead to a variety of health impacts in both people and aquatic life.
BUILDING AND ADVANCING Although the partnership is clearly focused on coming up with technology breakthroughs and capabilities that can give Soldiers the safe water resources they need to thrive in the field and further the Army’s mission, there is also an educational compo- nent that officials of both GVSC and Wayne State hope will pay dividends in the future for both the military and the school— and the rest of society.
In fact, the water detection research was stimulated by previously funded research collaborations between the Army and Wayne State that focused on developing rapid detection technologies for biological and chemical agents, Walker explained. Te new part- nership builds on this existing relationship and also leverages the expertise of Wayne State professors, including previous research conducted by Professor Gregory Auner and new research efforts proposed by McElmurry and Professor Amar Basu to develop innovative solutions for water purification.
It helps that the two organizations have capabilities and resources that are different but complementary. Wayne State faculty “use an integrated approach to engineering in terms of how we can take digital tools, models, simulations and all the advanced tech- nologies that are needed to really stay in front of that innovation curve,” Ezemenari Obasi, Ph.D., Wayne State’s vice president for research and innovation, said in a university article touting the new partnership. He noted that among other areas, the school is “pioneering research in integrated augmented technology, figur- ing out ways of using virtual reality and pairing new technologies with autonomous machinery.”
Meanwhile, as the DOD’s technology laboratory and engineer- ing center of excellence for all ground vehicle advancement and development, GVSC has a number of unique focus areas, among them human machine integrated formations: Advanced manufac- turing, modeling, simulation and prototyping, and survivability and protection.
As part of that mission, GVSC collaborates with various universi- ties in a very hands-on fashion, relying on a quad structure made
80 Army AL&T Magazine Spring 2025
up of four specific team members: A university faculty member, a graduate student, a GVSC member and an industry advisory member. Tis approach ensures that research aligns with the Army’s mission and is eventually transitioned for use by Soldiers; that industry will benefit through direct technology transition; and in this case, that Wayne State students gain a deep under- standing of both the needs of the Army and industry and have the opportunity to work in GVSC laboratories during the course of the project.
“It’s exciting that our students will have an opportunity to meet and work with leaders in this field from the Army and engage in developing a solution for this real-world problem to benefit our military and civilians,” McElmurry said.
CONCLUSION Te project is now moving forward quickly, Walker said. GVSC has already transferred key Army analytical equipment and test stands to Wayne State, which will enable the collaborative research projects to begin developing innovative solutions for detecting harmful bacteria and chemical agents, as well as novel treatment processes for PPCPs and PFAS.
As a result of this collaboration, Walker noted, both the Army and civil society will reap a number of benefits. Among these are “the development of innovative solutions for water purification, improved detection and removal of harmful bacteria and chemi- cal agents, and enhanced protection of public health. Te project will also contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and technology, with potential applications in a range of fields, from environmental monitoring to medical research.”
For more information on DEVCOM GVSC,
https://gvsc.devcom.army.mil.
HEATHER B. HAYES provides contract support to the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center as a contributing writer and editor for Army AL&T magazine and JANSON. She holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Kentucky and has more than 30 years of experience writing and editing feature articles and books.
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