Enviro Science celebrates 30 years

Enviro Science celebrates 30 years

Rice’s
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering will
celebrate its 30th anniversary during homecoming, Nov. 2-5,
with a series of lectures and other activities.

Anniversary
events will be highlighted by a Nov. 4 mini-symposium from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the “R” Room at Rice at Rice
Stadium. Alumni, current students, researchers, faculty
and staff are welcome to attend the activities; refreshments
and lunch will be served.

Opening remarks
Friday will be given by Herb Ward, the Foyt Family Professor
in Environmental Science and Engineering and professor of
ecology and evolutionary biology; Carl MacDowell, former
assistant to the Rice president; and Jack Matson ’75,
professor of civil engineering at Pennsylvania State University.

Morning presentations
will include stories and discussion of the department’s
first 30 years, with alumni from different years focusing
on the department during its various stages of development.
Speakers are Steve Klaine (M.S. ’81, Ph.D. ’82),
professor, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Clemson
University; Jack Norman (Ph.D. ’66), retired chief
executive officer, Pollutech; Chuck Newell (B.A. ’76,
M.S. ’80, Ph.D. ’89), vice president, Groundwater
Services Inc.; and Greg Characklis (M.S. ’94), Azurix.

The afternoon
presentations will include a talk by Rice President Malcolm
Gillis at 2 p.m. Other speakers will give short presentations
about areas of interest within environmental science and
engineering. Speakers and their topics are Bill Batchelor
(B.A. ’71, M.S. ’74, Ph.D. ’76), professor,
Civil Engineering Department, Texas A&M University,
hazardous waste; Shankar Chellum (M.S. ’91, Ph.D. ’96),
professor, University of Houston, water purification; Hanadi
Rifai (M.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’89), professor, University
of Houston, water resources; and Nina Springer (B.S. ’79,
M.S. ’83) Exxon/Mobil, energy and the environment.

Joe Hughes,
associate professor and department chair, will give the
closing speech, focusing on the next 30 years in Rice’s
environmental science and engineering department.

Other 30th anniversary
activities include:

• Thursday,
Nov. 2—Open house reception, 6-10 p.m., at the Ward’s
house in West University for all ES&E alumni as they
arrive in Houston.
• Friday, Nov. 3— Reception and dinner, 7-11 p.m.,
location to be announced.
• Saturday, Nov. 4— Pregame barbecue, noon, alumni
tent at southwest stadium entrance 1, catered by Goode Co.
• Saturday, Nov. 4— Homecoming football game,
2 p.m., Rice vs. SMU.
For more information about the environmental science and
engineering anniversary, contact the department at (713)
348-4951.