In this Facility Spotlight episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber talk with Wes Schmidt, Senior Life Support Systems Technician at the Minnesota Zoo. Wes takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the most diverse and technically challenging facilities in the Midwest, where maintaining healthy aquatic environments means balancing complex life support systems (LSS), mechanical infrastructure, and Minnesota's extreme seasonal conditions.
The conversation dives into:
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How the Minnesota Zoo manages 2 million+ gallons of water across multiple exhibits
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The engineering behind filtration, heating, and water circulation systems
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Unique challenges of operating marine and freshwater systems in cold climates
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The collaboration between animal care teams, engineers, and LSS operators
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Strategies for energy efficiency, reliability, and preventive maintenance
Whether you're an LSS professional, engineer, or zoo operations enthusiast, this episode offers rare insight into the innovation, teamwork, and precision that keep aquatic life thriving year-round at the Minnesota Zoo.