William Otto

Education

Ph.D., University of Kansas
B.A., MidAmerica Nazarene University

Areas of Expertise

Dr. William Otto is an analytical chemist by training, with a very strong focus on the environment. He is currently interested in environmental monitoring with a focus on the Downeast rivers that are home to the endangered Atlantic Salmon. He regularly incorporates chemical monitoring of the rivers and ocean in courses. His students have monitored pH of the rivers, demonstrating episodic acid rain events that may be impairing the survival of Atlantic Salmon.

Dr. Otto also has a very strong interest in energy. At UMM, he has guided several student projects that focused on energy. In 2004-2005 as part of an EPA P3 funded project, he worked with a student group identifying what green features would be feasibly incorporated into a new building at UMM. In 2007-2009, he worked with students in developing the greenhouse gas inventory for UMM. This was the focus of the project oriented Environmental Studies: Issues and Actions course that he taught.