Environmental Engineering Science Seminar
(Jointly with Chemical Engineering & Center for Materials Innovation)
Friday, January 20, 2006
Lopata 101
Time: 2 pm
(REFRESHMENTS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PRESENTATION)

“Applications and implications of nanomaterials: challenges for environmental engineers "

Emerging technologies, including nanotechnologies, affect the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of our world, often in ways that are entirely unanticipated. There is considerable effort underway to explore uses of nanomaterials in applications such as membrane separations, catalysis, adsorption, and analysis with the goal of better protecting environmental quality. Along with the growth of a nanochemistry industry there is also the need to consider impacts of nanomaterials on environment and human health. Recent advances in nanomaterial-derived membrane technologies and catalyst supports are presented as examples of how nanomaterials might be used to create new environmental technologies. An update on research describing nanomaterials exposure and effects will be presented focusing on the unique properties of fullerene-based nanomaterials.

Prof Wiesner received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland in 1985, his M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1980; and his B.A. in Mathematics/Biology from Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1978. His research interests are in Membrane processes, nanotechnology, environmental transport, chemistry, and uses of colloidal and nano-structured materials, and computational engineering of environmental processes. He has published the results of his research in several refereed journal publications and Book Chapters. He is the recipient of many Awards, a few of which are the Geib Distinguished Environmental Lecturer, University of Connecticut, 1999; the Charles Duncan Award for Scholarship and Teaching, Rice University, 1998; the Rudolph Hering Medal, Environmental Engineering Division, ASCE, 1995 and the Association of Environmental Engineering Professors AWWA invited lecturer, 1993.