Taisto Viinikka, BSc.
238 Markham St. Toronto Ontario M6J 2G6

Education
1988 to 1993 Specialized Honours Applied Biochemistry (Co-op) at University of Guelph. Emphasis in Environmental Science. Graduated with Honours.
Work Experience
1988 to 1990 and 1994 to 1995 Host, Ontario Science Centre, Don Mills Ontario. Planned and presented science demonstrations to audiences from 1 to 350. Demonstrated lasers, a scanning electron microscope, human exercise physiology, sports physics, and other phenomena. Helped train fellow staff in Internet issues, theory, and practical surfing. Resolved visitor concerns and questions.
Jan to Apr 1994 Database Programmer, XCG Environmental Services, Mississauga Ontario. As part of a cooperative effort between XCG and Apogee Research Associates in Toronto, developed custom database creation and quality assurance software for waste management statistical data. Facilitated careful and clear two-way communication of expectations, needs, and capabilities between client, project managers, and programmers at XCG and Apogee.
Summer 1993 Fortran Tutor, Guelph Ontario. While a part-time student, tutored students in a university level Fortran language course at the University of Guelph.
Summer 1992 Environmental Laboratory Technician, Forestry Canada, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario. Collected, prepared, and analyzed stream water samples for herbicide residues using a gas chromatograph. Responsible for assuring analysis accuracy and data integrity. Coauthored technical paper on persistence of TriclopyrTM herbicide in stream water, to be published in American Journal of Herbicide Research.
Sept to Dec 1991 Environmental Laboratory Technician, Zenon Environmental Labs, Burlington Ontario. Prepared and analyzed soil and water samples for hydrocarbons and PCBs. Designed, performed, and reported an independent experimental assessment of the accuracy and precision of Zenon's hydrocarbon analysis.
Sept to Dec 1990 Assistant Technical Analyst, Environment Canada, Burlington Ontario. Responsible for trouble-shooting a computer model of gold mining tailings pond chemical processes. Debugged original Fortran code, wrote and documented new code, and documented mathematical modelling procedures used in the model.
Jan to Apr 1990 Assistant Technical Analyst, Peel Region Industrial Waste Reduction, Mississauga Ontario. Assisted in the planning, promotion, and implementation of a pilot project to collect recyclable paper from a large number of small businesses in Mississauga. Promoted waste recycling, reuse, and reduction in Peel Region commercial and industrial sectors.
Other
    Awards
  • Canada Scholar
  • Ontario Scholar
  • Royal Canadian Legion public speaking competition region finalist in 1987.
    Computer skills
  • Experienced in various computer operating systems: Unix, Mac, MSDOS/Windows, VMS.
  • Skilled with FoxPro, Wordperfect, Lotus, Excel, Quattro, and other software packages.
  • Seasoned programmer in HTML, SQL/XBase, bash, C, Fortran, and Basic.
  • Working extensively on the Internet since 1991.
    Communications skills
  • The Peak and The Ontarion, University of Toronto newspaper The Gargoyle, Montreal 'zine Aggro G and the literary journal Interuptus.
  • Regional, Provincial, and National level parliamentary debate. Drafted and presented legislation at South Central Ontario Youth Parliament, 1989 and 1990. Durham West riding delegate to Youth Parliament Jeunesse 1990, national level parliament in Ottawa.