Dr. Ward is Rice’s Foyt Family Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering emeritus and professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology emeritus. Ward, a leading authority on hazardous waste remediation, joined Rice in 1966, helped found the university’s academic programs in environmental science and engineering, and played a key role in building the university’s internationally recognized program in environmental remediation technology. Though Dr. Ward "officially" retired on June 2013, he remains an active collaborator and advisor within the CEE department and Rice.
Research Areas
Environmental Microbiology; Remediation Technology Development; Chemical Transport and Fate
Education
M.P.H. The University of Texas, Environmental Health Science 1978
Ph.D. Cornell University, Plant Pathology, Physiology and Genetics 1960
M.S. Cornell University, Plant Pathology and Genetics 1958
B.S. New Mexico State University, Agriculture and Biology 1955
Honors & Awards
Charles Thom Award, 2011, for outstanding research in industrial microbiology. Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
McKee Medal, 2007, for best groundwater paper published in Water Environment Research in 2006. Water Environment Federation
Frederick George Pohland Medal, 2006, for Outstanding Contributions to Bridging Environmental Research, Education, and Practice, 2006. Awarded jointly by the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors and the American Academy of Envir
Lifetime Achievement Award for (environmental) Remediation, 2006. Sponsored by Brown and Caldwell at the Fifth International Battelle Conference on the Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds
Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE), Certification by Eminence, American Academy of Environmental Engineers, 2004. Recertified in 2011
National Associate of the U.S. National Academies of Science and Engineering, awarded in recognition of contributions to the National Research Council, 2004
National Distinguished Lecturer, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP), 2000
Herb Ward Distinguished Service Award, Created by the Society of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, November 2000
Founders Award, for distinguished contributions to environmental science, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1998
WASTECH Award, in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the profession, American Academy of Environmental Engineers, 1998
Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology, 1994
Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) Award, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 1993
Distinguished Service Award, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1990, recognition as founding Editor-in-Chief of the Society's international research journal
Charles Porter Award, in recognition of distinguished contributions to industrial microbiology, Society for Industrial Microbiology, 1986
Correspondent in Gravitational Physiology, International Union of Physiological Sciences, 1985
Fellow, Society for Industrial Microbiology (SIM), 1984
Achievement Award, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 1981, in recognition of distinguished performance in analysis and preparation of the Space Shuttle Environmental Impact Statement
Guest Clinician, Houston District Dental Society, 1967
Outstanding Civilian Performance Award, U. S. Air Force, 1965
Shell Foundation Graduate Fellowship, Cornell University, 1957-59
Regents Graduate Fellowship, Cornell University, 1956-57
Phi Kappa Phi, 1958
Sigma Xi - 1957; President, Rice University Chapter, 1970
B.S. Degree with Honors, 1955
Distinguished Military Student, 1955
Cadet Commander, Air Force ROTC, 1954-55
Alpha Zeta - 1953; President New Mexico Chapter, 1953-54
Bausch and Lomb Award in Science, 1951
Roger Boles Scholarship, 1951