Frederick George Pohland Medal
2023 Frederick George Pohland Medal Recipient:
Berrin Tansel, Ph.D, P.E., BCEE
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Florida International University
Dr. Berrin Tansel is an environmental engineer, researcher, author, educator, and professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Florida International University (FIU). Before joining FIU, she worked at the Center for Environmental Management at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, on preparation of several reports to US Congress on environmental quality and waste characteristics for development of environmental regulations and policies for biosolids management. She worked as a project manager at Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and PEER Consultants; and was a consultant for the Soap and Detergent Association, SCS Engineers, and ERM-South.
Dr. Tansel is an executive member of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET and serves as a program evaluator for the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES). She serves on the Environmental Engineering Council of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES), and on the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) of United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Climate Change Subcommittee.
Dr. Tansel is a registered professional engineer in Florida. She is a board-certified environmental engineer (AAEES), and an elected fellow of Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Environmental and Water Resources Engineers (EWRI). She has authored over 200 research papers, professional practice publications, and books on environmental sustainability, wastewater and water treatment processes, infrastructure reliability, oil spills in coastal areas, and contaminant transport in soil and water environment.
Dr. Tansel holds PhD and MS degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Past Winners
Previous distinguished recipients of this honor include:
Year |
Recipient |
2022 |
John Sutherland, Ph.D., BCEEM |
2021 |
Nancy G. Love, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2020 |
Debra R. Reinhart, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2019 |
Spyros G. Pavlostathis, Ph.D., BCEEM |
2018 |
Charles B. Bott, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2017 |
Daniel B. Oerther, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2016 |
Glen Daigger, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2015 |
Morton Barlaz, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2014 |
C. P. Leslie Grady, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2013 |
H. David Stensel, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2012 |
Michael K. Stenstrom, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2011 |
John T. Novak, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2010 |
David W. Jenkins, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2009 |
Louis J. Thibodeaux, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2008 |
Makram Suidan, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2007 |
George Tchobanoglous, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2006 |
C. Herb Ward, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2005 |
Raymond C. Loehr, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
2005 |
R. Rhodes Trussell, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE |
About the Frederick George Pohland Medal
This award honors an individual who has made sustained and outstanding efforts to bridge environmental engineering research, education, and practice. Only members of AEESP and/or the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) are eligible to receive this award. The award will consist of a medal, a $1000 cash award, and reimbursement of travel costs of up to $1,000 for travel to the award ceremony.
Nominations must be made by members of AEESP and/or AAEES. Nomination packages should include: (1) a cover letter from the nominator; (2) a full curriculum vitae for the nominee; (3) and at least two, but not more than five, additional letters of recommendation. Past nominations will be carried over and considered for three years and can be modified during this period.
Dr. Frederick G. Pohland (1931-2004) was Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Professor and Edward R. Weidlein Chair of Environmental Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Fred's research led to fundamental advances in anaerobic processes. He received numerous honors and awards and was the author of more than 150 technical and scientific publications. Dr. Pohland was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1993 for advancing the theory of anaerobic treatment processes and applications to solid waste management. Committed to applying research to practice and disseminating vital information, Dr. Pohland founded and chaired International Water Association (IWA) Specialist Committees to bring together practitioners, researchers and educators. Fred Pohland was a valued colleague and very dedicated to advancement of the profession of environmental engineering.
AAEES and AEESP thank the Pohland family and other donors to the Frederick George Pohland Memorial Fund for their generosity in establishing this award.