Two Receive Clarkson Honorary Degrees

Honorary degree recipients Richard G.
Luthy (L) and Charles R. O'Melia (R)
with President Tony Collins.

At the AEESP conference, Clarkson University awarded honorary doctor of science degrees to Charles O'Melia and Richard Luthy. In honoring the two honorary degree recipients, Clarkson President Tony Collins spoke of their enormous contributions to their fields of research as well as their professional and personal connections to Clarkson.

Charles R. O'Melia, a pioneer in aquatic colloid chemistry, has made significant contributions to the theories of coagulation, flocculation and filtration leading to improved water treatment practices throughout the world. He is the Abel Wolman Professor of Environmental Engineering and chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. "He is an expert in aquatic colloid chemistry, which makes him a household name among Clarkson's faculty associated with our Center for Advanced Materials Processing as well as our faculty working under the umbrella of the Clarkson Center for the Environment," said Collins.

Richard G. Luthy is the Silas H. Palmer Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University and past chair of the National Research Council's Water Science and Technology Board. His area of teaching and research is physicochemical processes and water quality. His research includes interdisciplinary approaches to understand phase partitioning and availability of organic contaminants and the application of water quality engineering and environmental quality criteria. Luthy has also served on the Engineering Advisory Board for Clarkson's Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering. His corporate projects with Alcoa and collaborative research initiatives, some with members of Clarkson's faculty, have had significant local impact on the viability of the nearby St. Lawrence River.