China's Hollow Villages Undergo a Transformation

As an agricultural engineering professor, I was excited to visit and tour the farm village Houbali, in southwestern Shandong Province. I found myself standing among newly constructed high-rise buildings, a vastly different community than I had expected to encounter. A bicycle repair shop was setting up alongside other bustling businesses in the first-floor storefronts. 


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  1. Online training for soil and site evaluation

    Nov 1, 2021

    Just published - an article on the new online training course. The 2021 offering just closed with plans for 2022 starting June 1 - through Oct 31.  To learn more about the course check the paper presented at the 2021 conference of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association.  Link to paper

  2. Treatment of seawater salinity sewage with intermittent sand bioreactors - Just Published

    Oct 26, 2021

    In water stressed areas, flush toilets using fresh water are unsustainable. This paper explores the ability of intermittent sand bioreactors (ISBs) to treat seawater salinity septic tank effluent for on-site wastewater treatment in coastal regions.  To find out more go to Water Science and Technology.

  3. Holiday treats become invasive species and threatens biodiversity in the U.S. and China

    Oct 20, 2021

    In 2019, U.S. Customs seized 3400 pounds of invasive Chinese mitten crabs at the Cincinnati, Ohio airport. The mitten crab threatens commercial fishing and biodiversity and is listed on the top 100 worst invader list. China is hosting the 15th meeting of the Convention on Biodiversity and is in a position to show leadership in protecting aquatic environments.

    To learn more go to China US Focus

  4. China and US Aquaculture Open Door to Invaders

    Aug 27, 2021

    Aquaculture is helping meet the growing demand for seafood, especially in Asia.  Unfortunately, many of the fish and seafood we want to eat are not native to the area.  If proper care is not taken, aquaculture species can become invasive - like the crayfish in China and Asian carp in the US. To find out more see the story in the New Security Beat

  5. Bacterial movement during winter irrigation of reclaimed wastewater

    Aug 27, 2021

    Just published is research conducted at the 50 year old wastewater irrigation site at Deer Creek State Park. Check out the journal article in Sustainability

  6. Low-cost Treatment of Food Processing Wastewater

    Aug 24, 2021

    A SW Ohio meat processor built and operates a wastewater treatment system that saves money and protects the environment. It is based on research conducted at The Ohio State University.

    Find out more Low-cost Treatment of Food Processing Wastewater

  7. Aquaculture Fish Food

    Jul 19, 2021

    Can China and the US break the ocean connection? Agriculture is growing algae to help fill the Omega-3 gap to help reduce the overfishing of forage fish to make fishmeal and fish oil.  Read more on the New Security Beat

  8. A Tale of 2 Snails: Biodiversity threats of invasive species in the United States and China

    Jun 1, 2021

    As host of the 15th Convention of Biological Diversity, China will be leading discussions where controlling invasive species is one of the key actions. Intentional introduction of exotic species has been a part of agriculture for centuries. The United States and China are the most likely sources of invasive species, and will likely suffer the most from their effects.

  9. Iron in Drinking Water

    May 24, 2021

    Iron in water is not hazardous, but stains fixtures and gives water a metalic taste. Well owners have several options to remove iron from water. To find out more scheck the new fact sheet - Iron in Drinking Water

  10. Aquaculture is Fishing to Gut Plastic Waste—In The United States and China

    Apr 23, 2021

    China is the world’s leading seafood producer and exporter, contributing 62 percent of global production. China has more than 8 million hectares of ponds, a land area large enough to completely blanket the state of South Carolina. These ponds produce fish, shrimp, frogs, and turtles for food, but they also produce plastic waste.

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