Civil and Environmental Engineering

Civil and Environmental Engineering’s Bedient earns award for mentoring

BY JESSICA STARK
Rice News Staff

For Philip Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering, the most rewarding teaching moments occur when he sees one of his students deliver a presentation with confidence.

”It’s very inspiring to watch my students grow as professionals. They might come in knowing very little and being intimidated by problems, but they leave knowing they can solve anything,” Bedient said.

For his contributions to the personal and professional development of his students, Bedient is being honored with this year’s Presidential Award for Mentoring. The mentoring award is given annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated a commitment to mentoring students, either graduate or undergraduate.

BEDIENT

”One of the unique aspects about Rice is the close proximity of faculty to students,” Bedient said. ”The smaller class sizes are very conducive to learning and development,”

In addition to office hours and other appointments, he makes time for his students right before and right after class. ”I always find a way to make time for my students. It’s extremely important to have those one-on-one conversations.” 

When he was a student at the University of Florida, Bedient took advantage of those conversations with his major adviser. He has continued to find mentors in his colleagues at Rice.

”There are so many wonderful professors here who have guided my career and research. I am truly grateful to my colleagues,” Bedient said. ”I have also learned a great deal from my students. Particularly those involved with Engineers Without Borders. They take the tools and knowledge they have to apply them to the areas that need them.”

Bedient has many hopes for his students. ”Most importantly, I hope they learn to recognize that problems can be solved. The problems may be complex and others might have failed, but there is a solution there. And with a little hard work, they will be the one to find the answer.”

Bedient earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from the University of Florida. He teaches and performs research in surface and ground water hydrology and flood prediction systems. He served as chair of environmental engineering at Rice from 1992 to 1999.