About UHC
Mike Repkin
Orientations Director and Research and Development Advisor, Immediate Past President
Michael Repkin served Urban Habitat Chicago for nearly 5 years as President, stepping down to assume a more advisory role while continuing to be the face of orientation for new volunteers. His personal dedication to the organization’s mission is indisputable, and is largely responsible for leading the organization on a path to sustainability, developing a proven track record for completing several actual projects under his watch, including Rooftop Victory Garden at True Nature Foods, 2613 Garden, Joy Garden, and James Park Garden.
Michael is an ecological designer specializing in biological resource recovery and sustainable food production. He led young students in projects that focus on human life support systems and technologies for five years in Chicago. While serving in the Army, his assignments included laboratory positions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Mr. Repkin is also President of Repkin Biosystems, Inc., a company “dedicated to enabling customers with the tools that are needed to provide human life support utilizing biological processes, and methods that are compatible with living systems”.
His experience with water purification and recovery dates back to 1982 with his projects in aquaculture. Michael’s biofiltration experience includes both in-stream and batch reactor methodologies, sessile and plaktonic algae bioreactors, aerobic and anaerobic fixed-film and fluidized bed bacterial bioreactors, pulsed and continual stream rhizofiltration, integrated aquaculture (aquaponics) and is currently developing methods for vertical marsh water recovery. Michael is also experienced in nonbiological methods of water recovery including solar distillation, deep and fluidized bed particle filtration, chemical flocculation methods, chemical absorption methods, ion exchange columns, halogen disinfection, and ultraviolet / ozone disinfection. Along with his ability to purify water, he is also capable of running all standard methods for verification of physical, chemical, and biological parameters of water quality in both field and laboratory settings.
He invented the method of Building Integrated Food Production (BIFP) and Roof Farm used on several projects, including UHC’s Rooftop Victory Garden at True Nature Foods; others include Living Panels, and Rhizofilter 1.
His public outreach on issues ranging from water issues and greywater recovery to rooftop agriculture includes appearances on or at Chicago Public Radio, The Field Museum, Loyola Earth Day, Northeastern Illinois University, and Chicago Architecture Foundation.
Lectures and presentations
The Wonderful World of Malcolm Wells
Changing the Way Humans Inhabit the Earth
Independence Day 2009
Creating an Abundant Water Supply for All Humans
Growing Plants on Rooftops in Chicago
Gold, Not Garbage
Disseminated Biofiltration for Mitigation of Anthropogenic Contaminants
Beyond Earth Day - The Chicago 2175 Plan