Leadership Vicksburg visits ERDC

On Wednesday morning Leadership Vicksburg visited ERDC and toured the facility.

About 20 members of the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored group toured the expansive facility to learn about its function and place in the community.

Public Affairs Director Mary Margaret Edny welcomes Leadership Vicksburg. Photo by David Day

On this visit, the group met with Public Affairs Chief Mary Margaret Edney who welcomed them and introduced the group to a sampling of what ERDC does. Edney included a brief history of how ERDC came to be, some of their most significant projects over the years, their priorities, partners, portfolio, economic impact and STEM outreach. Over the past 5 years, ERDC has mentored more than 11,000 K-12 students.

Submerged speakers scare away invasive carp

From there the group visited the Environmental Lab and fish flume. Host Avery Schemmell talked about some of the work done on the waterways including creative projects to decrease the impact of invasive carp species in the waterways. A group of underwater speakers was developed that sounded like the only known predator of the invasive species. It would cause the fish to disperse. Over time that sound was broken down into audible components and an effective tone was found to disperse the fish.

Avery Schemmell explains the work done in the Cognitive Ecology Ecohydrology Research Building. Photo by David Day

Those speakers are submerged in locations where they want to clear the invasive carp to allow boats to pass or locks to be operated.

The Centrifuge

Dr. April Bowman then welcomed the group to the Centrifuge Research Center and explained the work done at that facility. The high-speed centrifuge operates in an underground bunker and is used to simulate stresses on structures and building under duress. The Leadership Group spent several minutes in the centrifuge room observing the massive piece of equipment.

The Leadership Vicksburg group in the centrifuge structure at ERDC. Photo by David Day

Drone technology

The last stop before lunch was in the Environmental lab where Mark Graves showed some of the drone technology and introduced the group to a very tired watch robot named “Spot.” Spot had been working for several days and was exhausted; managing only to greet the group, give it the once over and retire back to its resting position.

Leadership Vicksburg

According to its website, Leadership Vicksburg is committed to shaping community leaders by providing the tools necessary to access issues and determine effective ways to develop and implement solutions that benefit both the individual and the community.

“Leadership Vicksburg is a program under the Vicksburg Warren Chamber of Commerce. It is a group comprised of business professionals throughout the community that have signed up for this program to gain a better knowledge of Vicksburg and its industry and education and business and all aspects that make Vicksburg, Vicksburg. We toured the state capitol, we’ve gone to various industries as well as businesses in the community and our education system,” explained Chamber representative Ann Elizabeth Buys. “In addition to these visits, they also have to complete a community project that addresses some type of need in the city of Vicksburg.”

If you wish to join the Leadership Vicksburg group you can submit an application when they go out at the end of July 2023.

“Any individual can apply, anyone can take part and it’s a wonderful opportunity to get a better knowledge of Vicksburg and really contribute to the community,” said Buys.

Class sizes are limited for the Leadership Vicksburg group.