Awards | AEESP

The AEESP coordinates the activities of an Awards Committee which oversees the annual selection of the following awards to recognize different aspects of service, research, professional involvement, and teaching in the area of environmental engineering and science. For further information, see the AEESP Foundation Awards web site AEESP Foundation.

Nominations for the 2012 AEESP Awards are due March 15, 2012.

2011 AEESP Award Recipients *** 2010 AEESP Award Recipients *** List of all past AEESP award winners *** 2011 AEESP Distinguished Service Awards *** 2010 AEESP Distinguished Service Awards

2011 AEESP Award Recipients

The 2011 AEESP Awards were presented to the award recipients at the 2011 AEESP Business Meeting and Award Ceremony on July 10, 2011 at the 2011 AEESP Education and Research Conference at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Thank you to the members of the 2011 awards committee and sub-committees for thoughtful evaluation of nominations: Bill Arnold, Ali Boehm, Liz Butler, Andrea Ferro, Hector Fuentes, April Gu, Willie Harper, Ray Hozalski, Chad Javfert, Cindy Lee, Qilin Li, Greg Lowry, Cecil Lue-Hing, Jim Mihelcic, Rob Nerenberg, Liz Pohland, Tim Prince, Deb Reinhart, Linda Weavers, and James Young. Below is a list of the recipients of these awards. Congratulations to all award winners!

Student Awards:

CH2M Hill/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards

These awards annually recognize two outstanding doctoral dissertations that contribute to the advancement of environmental science and engineering. The two awards are equivalent. Each student recipient is presented with a plaque as well as a $1500 cash award. The students' advisors are awarded $250.

Manish Kumar (advised by Julie Zilles and Mark Clark), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Biomimetic Membranes as New Materials for Applications in Environmental Engineering and Biology

Julie Zilles of University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (center) accepts the CH2M Hill/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award on behalf of her student, Manish Kumar, from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Lee D. Bryant, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (advised by John C. Little, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Alfred Wüest, Eawag

Dynamic forcing of oxygen, iron, and manganese fluxes at the sediment-water interface in lakes and reservoirs

John Little and Lee Bryant of Virginia Tech (center left and center right, respectively) accept the CH2M Hill/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Montgomery-Watson-Harza Consulting Engineers / AEESP Master's Thesis Award

This award annually recognizes the first and second most outstanding Master of Science theses that contribute to the advancement of environmental science and engineering. The first place award includes a $1500 cash award for the student, and $500 is awarded to the second place student awardee.

First Place: Victoria Sacks (advisor: Rainer Lohmann), University of Rhoide Island

Validation of Polyethylene Passive Samplers for the Detection of Emerging Contaminants

Victoria Sacks of University of Rhode Island (center) accepts the first-place Montgomery-Watson-Harza Consulting Engineers / AEESP Master’s Thesis Award from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Second Place: Cynthia Schafer (advisor: James Mihelcic), University of South Florida

The Impact of Tank Material on Water Quality in Household Water Storage Systems in Cochabamba, Bolivia

Cynthia Schafer and John Mihelcic of University of South Florida (center left and right, respectively) accept the second-place Montgomery-Watson-Harza Consulting Engineers / AEESP Master’s Thesis Award from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Education, Research and Practice Awards:

McGraw-Hill / AEESP Award for Outstanding Teaching in Environmental Engineering & Science

This award is given annually to recognize excellence in classroom performance and related activities. The recipient receives a $500 cash award.

2011 Recipient: Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Shannon Bartelt-Hunt is currently an assistant professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is the recipient of a number of teaching awards since arriving at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 5 years ago. She is characterized by her nominators and students as a tireless advisor and passionate teacher. She founded the Engineers Without Borders Chapter at UNL and, in 2010, initiated a service learning project in her Introduction to Environmental Engineering course where students worked with a local gardening community within the Omaha Lead Superfund Site to determine lead levels in soil and vegetables.

Shannon Bartelt-Hunt of University of Nebraska-Lincoln (center) accepts the McGraw-Hill / AEESP Award for Outstanding Teaching in Environmental Engineering & Science from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Wiley / AEESP Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Engineering & Science Education

This award is given annually for excellence in teaching scholarship and/or professional society educational initiatives. This honor includes a $500 cash award.

2011 Recipient: Linda Phillips, University of South Florida

Most recently Linda Phillips has served as a Professor of Practice at the University of South Florida in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Linda was nominated for her efforts to develop and conduct an International Capstone Design course in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic. She has emphasized, not only course development, but dissemination of information on how to run an international service learning course. She is a key author on the book, Field Guide in Environmental Engineering for Development Workers: Water, Sanitation, Indoor Air. Linda retired this year.

Linda Phillips of University of South Florida (right), accepts the Wiley / AEESP Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Engineering & Science Education from graduate student, Heather Wright Wendel (left).

AEESP Outstanding Publication Award

This award is given annually to recognize the author(s) of a landmark environmental engineering and science paper that has withstood the test of time and significantly influenced the practice of environmental engineering and science.

2011 Recipients: Leah J. Matheson, and Paul G. Tratnyek, Oregon Health & Science University

"Reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated methanes by iron metal" Environmental Science and Technology, 28:2045-2053, 1994.

Leah Matheson is currently an intensive care unit (ICU) RN in Helena, Montana. Paul Tratnyek is a professor in Environmental and Biomolecular Systems at Oregon Health & Science University. Their seminal paper was the first major publication focused on the factors that were likely to control iron reactivity, paving the way for the use of permeable reactive barriers in remediation. Environmental Science & Technology includes this article on its list of Top 20 Most Cited Articles of All Time published by ES&T.

Paul Tratnyek of Oregon Health & Science University (center), accepts the AEESP Outstanding Publication Award from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

AEESP Founders' Award

This award is given annually to recognize a member of AEESP who has made "sustained and outstanding contributions to environmental engineering education and practice."

2011 Recipient: Francis A. DiGiano, University of North Carolina

Fran DiGiano is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina. Fran was nominated for his influential research contributions in the areas of activated carbon, membrane processes, and distribution water quality and his tireless service to the environmental engineering community. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his research contributions including the Rudolf Hering Medal from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the A.P. Black Research Award for sustained excellence in research and the George W. Fuller Award for Outstanding Service to the Profession both from the American Water Works Association. Fran has been very active in AEESP serving on committees, the AEESP Board, and as President in 1981-1982. Fran says the four key contributions to AEESP from his involvement are: conducting a conference on Fundamental Research Needs for Water and Wastewater Treatment (funded by NSF), redesigning the AEESP logo, starting the outstanding publication award, and testifying to the Senate Appropriations Committee. In addition, AWWA has benefited from his service in numerous ways.

Fran DiGiano of University of North Carolina (center) accepts the AEESP Founders’ Award from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Malcolm Pirnie / AEESP Frontier in Research Award

This award is given annually to recognize a member of AEESP who has advanced the environmental engineering and science field through recognized research leadership and pioneering efforts in a new and innovative research area. In addition to a medal, this honor includes a $4000 cash award.

2011 Recipient: Danny D. Reible, University of Texas at Austin

Danny Reible is presently the Bettie Margaret Smith Chair of Environmental Health Engineering at the University of Texas, Austin. Dr. Reible was nominated for his seminal contributions in sediment remediation. His untiring efforts allowed sediment capping to become an acceptable remediation measure for contaminated sediments. In recognition of his contributions he was inducted as a Member of the National Academy of Engineering for “the development of widely used means of management of contaminated sediments” in 2005.

Danny Reible of University of Texas (center) accepts the Malcolm Pirnie / AEESP Frontier in Research Award from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Frederick George Pohland Medal

This award honors a member of AEESP and/or the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) who has made sustained and outstanding efforts to bridge environmental engineering research, education, and practice. In addition to a medal, this honor includes a $1000 cash award.

2011 Recipient: John T. Novak, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

John Novak is the currently the Nick Prillaman Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech. John has gracefully managed sustained contributions in research, education and practice. In his 40 years as an environmental engineering researcher and educator, he has contributed approximately 300 articles resulting from his advising of 27 Ph.D. and 150 M.S. students! John has received many awards for his research including the Simon W. Freeze Award and Lecture from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2007. John has been active in professional service including 2 terms on the AEESP board of directors as well as service on WEF, WERF, AWWA, and ASCE committees. His presence is felt in the practice community as well. A nominator from the practice community states that he is known as “Mr. Sludge,” a credit to his awareness of practical needs of the environmental engineering community, particularly in the area of sludge management.

John Novak of Virginia Tech (center left) accepts the Frederick George Pohland Medal from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (center right) and Michael Selna of AAEE (right).

Service Awards:

Special AEESP Award for 1979 AEESP Archiving System That Has Stood the Test of Time

Kurt Keeley AWWA

This special AEESP Award is given to Kurt Keeley for his effort and skill as a librarian to create an archiving system in 1979 that is still in use today. He was nominated by David Hendricks, professor emeritus at Colorado State University, who chaired the Archives Committee from 1975 to 1992 that initiated the organization of archival materials for AEESP and solicited Mr. Keeley’s expertise.

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Liason to ASEE

Hector R. Fuentes, Florida International University

Hector Fuentes of Florida International University (center) accepts the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Liaison to ASEE from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Lecturers Committee

Sarina J. Ergas, University of South Florida

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Dissertation Award Sub-committee

Elizabeth C. Butler, Oklahoma University

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Membership Committee

Cyndee L. Gruden, University of Toledo

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP President and Board Member

Nancy G. Love, University of Michigan

Nancy Love of University of Michigan (center) accepts the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP President and Board Member from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Treasurer and Board Member

Margaret M. Lang, Humboldt State University

Margaret Lang of Humboldt State University (center) accepts the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Treasurer and Board Member from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Chief Information Officer and Board Member

William J. Cooper, University of California, Irvine

Bill Cooper of University of California, Irvine (center) accepts the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Chief Information Officer and Board Member from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Co-Chair of the 2011 AEESP Research and Education Conference Organizing Committee

Maya A. Trotz, University of South Florida

Jeffrey A. Cunningham, University of South Florida

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as a Member of the 2011 AEESP Research and Education Conference Organizing Committee

Sarina J. Ergas, University of South Florida

Sarina Ergas (second from left), Jeff Cunningham (center), and Maya Trotz (second from right) of University of South Florida accept Distinguished Service Awards for Outstanding Service in organizing the 2011 AEESP Research and Education Conference from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left), awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

Distinguished Lecturer for 2010-2011

David A. Dzombak

David A. Dzombak (center) accepts the 2010-2011 Distinguished Lecturer Award from incoming president, Joel Burken of Missouri S&T (left) and awards committee chair, Linda Weavers of Ohio State University (right).

2010 AEESP Award Recipients

The 2010 AEESP Awards were presented to the award recipients at the 2010 AEESP Meet and Greet Event at WEFTEC on October 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Below is a list of the recipients of these awards. Congratulations to all award winners!

Student Awards:

CH2M Hill/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards

These awards annually recognize two outstanding doctoral dissertations that contribute to the advancement of environmental science and engineering.

Elijah Thimson (advised by Pratim Biswas), Washington University in St. Louis

Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Solar Energy Harvesting

David Berry (advised by Lutgarde Raskin), University of Michigan

Molecular and Ecological Mechanisms of Bacterial Response to the Drinking Water Disinfectant Monochloramine

Elijah Thimson of Washington University in St. Louis accepts the CH2M Hill/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from Glen Daigger of CH2M Hill (right), outgoing Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Becker (far left; Michigan Technological University), and incoming president Nancy Love (second from left; University of Michigan).

Montgomery-Watson-Harza Consulting Engineers / AEESP Master's Thesis Award

This award annually recognizes the first and second most outstanding Master of Science theses that contribute to the advancement of environmental science and engineering.

First Place: Peter Steen, University of Minnesota(advised by William Arnold, University of Minnesota and Kristopher McNeill, ETH Zurich)

Photochemical Formation of Dioxins from Hydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

Second Place: Matthew Donnelly (advised by Shane Rogers), Clarkson University

Persistence of Bacterial Pathogens, Fecal Pollution Indicators, and Microbial Source Tracking Markers in Manure Amended Soils

Shane Rogers of Clarkson University accepts the second-place Montgomery-Watson-Harza consulting Engineers/AEESP Master’s Thesis Award on behalf of his student Matthew Donnelly from outgoing Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Becker (left; Michigan Technological University) and incoming president Nancy Love (center; University of Michigan).

Education, Research and Practice Awards:

McGraw-Hill / AEESP Award for Outstanding Teaching in Environmental Engineering & Science

This award is given annually to honor a faculty member who has made substantive contributions directly through class-oriented teaching, as enhanced through the development of new pedagogical techniques.

2010 Recipient: Jeanine Plummer, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Jeanine Plummer currently holds the Alena and David M. Schwaber Professorship in Environmental Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). She is the recipient of a number of teaching awards including several given by WPI, and was recognized as the 2008 Professor of the Year for Massachusetts. In 2009, Jeanine served as the faculty advisor for a group of undergraduate students who entered an award-winning project at the WERC Environmental Design Competition. Jeanine was nominated for the "student-first" and active learning approach she takes to teaching students, involvement in advising undergraduate design project teams, and commitment to advising and mentoring students.

Jeanine Plummer of Worchester Polytechnic Institute accepts the McGraw-Hill / AEESP Award for Outstanding Teaching in Environmental Engineering and Science from outgoing Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Becker (left; Michigan Technological University) and incoming president Nancy Love (center; University of Michigan).

Wiley / AEESP Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Engineering & Science Education

This award is given annually for excellence in teaching scholarship and/or professional society educational initiatives.

2010 Recipient: David Vaccari, Stevens Institute of Technology

David Vaccari is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology. He has been actively involved in the Education Committee of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE). He is also actively involved in ABET and currently serves on the ABET Board of Directors. In 2009, he received the Educator of the Year Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies. David was nominated for his efforts to promote educational quality control, national service to ABET and AAEE, and his commitment to improving biological literacy among engineers in the environmental field, including serving as the lead author on the textbook Environmental Biology for Engineers and Scientists.

David Vaccari of Stevens Institute of Technology accepts the Wiley / AEESP Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Engineering & Science Education from outgoing Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Becker (left; Michigan Technological University) and incoming president Nancy Love (center; University of Michigan).

AEESP Outstanding Publication Award

2010 Recipients: Charles W. Carter, TestAmerica, Las Vegas, NV and Irwin H. Suffet, University of California, Los Angeles

Binding of DDT to Dissolved Humic Materials. Environmental Science and Technology, 16:735-740, 1982.

Charles Carter is currently Vice President of TestAmerica, a leading environmental testing and analytical firm. Irwin (Mel) Suffett is a Professor of Environmental Health Sciences in the Environmental Science and Engineering Program at UCLA. Their paper quantitatively demonstrated that hydrophobic organic contaminants partition significantly to dissolved organic matter in natural waters and was nominated for the key role it played in establishing the importance of organic colloids in the fate and transport of hydrophobic organic contaminants.

Charles W. Carter of TestAmerica accepts the AEESP Outstanding Publication Award on behalf of his co-author Irwin H. Suffet (University of California, Los Angeles) from outgoing Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Becker (left; Michigan Technological University) and incoming president Nancy Love (center; University of Michigan).

AEESP Founders' Award

This award is given annually to recognize a member of AEESP who has made "sustained and outstanding contributions to environmental engineering education and practice."

2010 Recipient: Aarne Vesilind, Emeritus Professor, Bucknell University

Aarne Vesilind is currently Professor of Engineering Emeritus at Bucknell University. He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, received the Collingwood Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1971, and became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1985 (to name a few of the many awards Aarne has received). Aarne has been very active in AEESP over the years. In addition to serving on numerous committees and two terms on the AEESP Board, Aarne served as President of the Association from 1993 to 1994 and Book Review Editor from 1996-2005. Aarne was nominated for his contributions to advancing environmental engineering research and practice (especially in the area of sludge management), his commitment to helping current and future engineers understand the profession and its responsibilities, and for serving as a tireless ambassador of environmental engineering to our society at large.

Aarne Vesilind, Emeritus Professor, of Bucknell University accepts the AEESP Founders’ Award from outgoing Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Becker (left; Michigan Technological University) and incoming president Nancy Love (center; University of Michigan).

Malcolm Pirnie / AEESP Frontier in Research Award

2010 Recipient: Michelle Scherer, University of Iowa

Michelle Scherer is the Robert and Virginia Wheeler Faculty Fellow of Engineering at the University of Iowa. Dr. Scherer’s research program focuses on the reduction-oxidation reactions occurring at iron oxide surfaces; however, she was nominated for her particularly outstanding contributions to our understanding of the Fe biogeochemical cycle. In recognition of these contributions, the University of Iowa has presented Dr. Scherer with multiple Faculty Scholar Awards. She was also the recipient of the 2007 Award for Exceptional Research from the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa.

Frederick George Pohland Medal

2010 Recipient: David Jenkins, University of California, Berkeley

David Jenkins is a Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Jenkins was awarded the Frederick George Pohland Medal for his outstanding and sustained efforts to bridge education, research and practice in environmental engineering. His success in doing so may be attributed in part to his focus on applied research used to benefit the practice of wastewater treatment. Throughout his 50 year career, Dr. Jenkins contributed over 200 articles as well as numerous standard practice publications. In recognition of his work, Dr. Jenkins has received a myriad of awards from AEESP, WEF, ASCE, IWA, and others. In 2001, Dr. Jenkins was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering.

David Jenkins of the University of California, Berkeley accepts the Frederick George Pohland Medal from incoming president Nancy Love of the University of Michigan.

Service Awards:

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Dissertation Award Subcommittee

John M. Regan, Pennsylvania State University

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Awards Committee

Jennifer G. Becker, Michigan Technological University

Jennifer G. Becker of Michigan Technological University accepts the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Awards Committee from incoming president Nancy Love of the University of Michigan.

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Internet Resources Committee

Syed A. Hashsham, Michigan State University

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Education Committee

Michael A. Butkus, United States Military Academy

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as Chair of the AEESP Student Services Committee

Defne S. Apul, University of Toledo

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP President and Board Member

Peter Adriaens, University of Michigan

Peter Adriaens of the University of Michigan accepts the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP President and Board Member from outgoing Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Becker (left; Michigan Technological University) and incoming president Nancy Love (center; University of Michigan).

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Secretary and Board Member

Jeanne M. Van Briesen, Carnegie Mellon University

Jeanne M. Van Briesen of Carnegie Mellon University accepts the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Secretary and Board Member from outgoing Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Becker (left; Michigan Technological University) and incoming president Nancy Love (center; University of Michigan).

Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service as AEESP Chief Information Officer and Board Member

Daniel B. Oerther, Missouri University of Science and Technology