pwr_july-2024 - 32

MARNIE SURFACEBLOW
Bitter Rivalry Ends in Collaboration
Never forget the human factors that can impact safety and success at every level of
a project.
Una Nowling, PE
arnie Surfaceblow, vice president
of Surfaceblow & Associates
International, watched the
Maharashtra landscape scroll past the
car window. Turning to her driver, Lead
Field Engineer Maya Sharma, she asked,
" Your thoughts? "
Keeping her eyes on the road, Maya
thought, then responded: " Investigating
this accident for Hekmatyar Holdings
at their rare earth elements and critical
minerals [REE/CM] facility normally is
something you would approach with enthusiasm.
The German firm Technische
Exzellenz AG operates the facility, and
their chief technology officer, Dr. Steffi
Gauss, will meet us on-site to be interviewed
and to facilitate a re-enactment
of operations prior to the acid tank explosion,
sending five workers to hospital. "
Pausing briefly, Maya continued:
M
" Previously you spoke disparagingly of
a 'Steffi' from your past. Ma'am, is this
that same person and do you have a potential
personal conflict? "
" Yes ... and yes. Well done, " Marnie
replied. Steeling herself with a deep
drink of coffee from her thermos, she
added, " It's painful history, so I'll stick to
the high points. "
A Touchy History
Marnie began, " We were the only two
graduate students in our university's Power
Engineering program. We studied together
every day, helped each other with
our research projects, and quickly became
best friends. No, more like sisters really.
" In our thesis year the university cut
research funding, and every graduate student
had to compete for project funds.
Steffi and I swore we'd work together to
fund both our projects. As our chances
started to look grim, we butted heads
over how to proceed. Then, I discovered
she had family connections trying to
sway the Dean. I felt betrayed and confronted
her. She claimed she had some
master plan to fund both projects, but it
seemed like a lame excuse. We fought,
ending our friendship. A week later, she
began her newly funded research, and I
began my third-shift waitressing job at
a truck plaza, self-funding my research, "
32
Marnie explained.
Struggling for words, Maya finally said,
" You worked to fund your own graduate
project? Amazing, ma'am! "
" Our personal conflict peaked during
Steffi's thesis defense, " Marnie continued.
" I mean, all I did was note her lignite
gasification project was a perpetual
motion machine of the second kind. The
room was in an uproar until I showed
them on a whiteboard the mistake she'd
made. There was total silence, broken by
Steffi calling me the b-word. After that ...
well, I twisted the knife and called her a
Westphalian Witch, because only magic
could make her project work. I received
a cup of coffee in my face, and she received
a one-semester suspension. "
" I ... see, " Maya grimly commented,
presaging a battle yet to come.
Hard Feelings Persist
The site was modern and clean, and the
staff highly trained and professional. A
site safety video revealed some dangerous
chemicals were present, along with
moving equipment bringing coal mining
waste to the site, but most equipment
was well-isolated from direct contact
with the workers. Neodymium, dysprosium,
and praseodymium were the
primary REE/CM produced, highly valuable
for making high-strength generator
magnets and motors. Gallium and germanium,
vital for electrical circuits, was
produced in larger amounts. Some thorium
was produced as well, although it
was safely concentrated off-site.
A site concierge escorted them to the
director's office, which resembled a small
Victorian
library. Wooden bookshelves
lined every wall, and curio cabinets and
display tables held mineral samples and
science instruments from the turn of the
last century (Figure 1). " Hmm. It's rather
cozy, " commented Marnie.
A contralto German-accented voice
from behind them interjected, " Really?
Since you think I am a witch, you expected
a boiling cauldron and cobwebs? "
Dr. Steffi Gauss bustled into the room,
gestured at the guest chairs, and dropped
into her chair. Of German-Brazilian heritage,
she was surprisingly petite, with
jet black hair tied in a severe bun. Wirewww.powermag.com
1.
Steffi's office included an impressive library
and many rare-earth samples. Source: POWER
spectacles framed dark, serious eyes-
yet her face carried smile lines with pride.
Such was absent, however, as she glared
toward Marnie. Upon sizing her up, Maya
was reminded of the prose: " Though she
be but little, she is fierce. "
Maya deferentially presented her business
card. " Ma'am, I am honored to
meet you. I was impressed greatly by
your recent paper regarding beryllium to
track bearing loss, and the use of ultraviolet
light to assist. "
" Indeed? That is most kind of you to
say. " Steffi paused, then said, " Would
you be surprised to know I have followed
your career, Ms. Sharma? Using the behavior
of crows to prevent a deadly ammonia
leak ... most impressive. "
Stunned, Maya replied, " But, ma'am, I
was working for the power station then,
and those details were never made public.
How ... "
Smiling confidently, Steffi waved a
hand toward Marnie. " Like her, I have
my networks, sources, informants, yes?
Perhaps being a 'witch,' the crows told
me! " she added with a laugh.
Refreshments were summoned by
Steffi, and after partaking of them and
some small talk, she folded her hands,
sighed, and addressed Marnie. " I did not
wish to meet you. I told corporate to ask
for anyone except you, but the Hekmatyar
family insisted. Curious. "
Marnie sipped her coffee, sending
Steffi her characteristic sharp stare with
a slight smile. " Perhaps they knew only
I could discover your mistakes-like I did
with your Master's project. "
Steffi leapt to her feet ready for battle,
with Marnie a second behind. The first
round of verbal pummeling lasted three
POWER | July 2024
http://www.powermag.com
pwr_july-2024

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