BACK TO THE FUTURE!! VISUALIZE AMERICA IN THE EARLY 1940’S

World War II activities “in the neighborhood” 1527 N. Wieland St. Chicago, Ill. (“Old Town”) VICTORY GARDENS RECYCLING grease “tin foil” (Al?) from wrappers metal objects (pots, pans) others

RATIONING (OR SCARCE) gasoline sugar meat milk nylon stockings others (bubble gum) Manufacturing capacity was devoted to war materiel

WORLD WAR II ENDS Consumers have money, but no where to spend it Manufacturing turns to making cars, appliances, new devices (not previously available) Where was Ed Kilcawley in his thinking about this, just after the end of the war….?

THE ENVIRONMENT AS VIEWED in the 50’s BY PROFESSOR EDWARD J. KILCAWLEY A Colloquium to Celebrate Fifty Years of Environmental Engineering Nicholas L. Clesceri Professor of Environmental Engineering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies March 29, 2005

THE COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT E.J. Kilcawley (1963), The Environmental Engineering Programme at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Environmental Health, Vol. 5, No. 2 “Man’s environment includes both physical and cultural aspects.” 1.Physical or Natural Environment –climate, air, water, land, mineral resources –native vegetation and animal life –services (food, shelter, heat, and light) 2.Culture and Degree of Development –man continuously strives to improve the conditions of his surroundings to create higher standards of living

THE COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT E.J. Kilcawley (1963), The Environmental Engineering Programme at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Environmental Health, Vol. 5, No. 2 “In these efforts he has, in general, neglected to consider the important relationships between the factors which constitute the total environment. “

Problems & Consequences Problems Lack of knowledge of environmental impact Desire to satisfy immediate demand Concentrated effort toward control without regard to the environment Consequences Depleted natural resources & raised pollution Generated excessive noise and vibrations Created radioactive waste problems with nuclear power Necessitated control of outer space to protect from nuclear weapons annihilation

“Water is H 2 0, hydrogen two parts, oxygen one, but there is also a third thing that makes water and nobody knows what that is.” D. H. Lawrence ( ), Pansies, 1929

The confusion starts early……. What kids say about water: “In looking at a drop of water under a microscope, we find there are twice as many H's as O's.” “Water freezes at 32º and boils at 212º. There are 180º between freezing and boiling because there are 180º between north and south.” “Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water.” “H 2 0 is hot water, and CO 2 is cold water.”

Kilcawley’s CHALLENGE 1.Post- World War II, shift in manufacturing to the production of consumer goods for public consumption 2.Application of scientific and engineering knowledge to: develop new products to reduce sickness and disease satisfy man’s needs & provide him with comfort and convenience 3.But, these same benefits would impose severe and ever increasing stresses on man’s environment.

Stressors that Caused Environmental Problems Mechanization of the home environment, concentrated populations and development of new communications systems Economic Development Measured by domestic progress and national security Depends on: the prosperity of its industries the health and well being of its people utilization and conservation of its natural resources Kilcawley’s CHALLENGE (cont.)

“One of man’s inherent characteristics is the desire to control and to improve his environment as a whole.” The index of public health is associated with the effective control of the environment. –Society strives for a high level of well-being, freedom from fear and poverty, a maximum of convenience, comfort, and freedom from disease –Early beginnings of environmental engineering…

Worldwide Problems of Environmental Control Enhancing Environmental health in developed nations –control of air and stream pollution, water conservation –control of radiation –providing adequate housing and safe food supplies Upgrading living standards in the developing countries –integration of problems in the social, economic, health, and educational fields –need for leaders qualified in the broad aspects of every phase of development now exists and will increase At that time, environmental control in the face of a growing population and expanded industrial economy, presented one of the most challenging problems ever faced in the development of U.S. society.

Kilcawley’s SOLUTION “The engineer must: “have a clear concept of the many facets of modern environmental control in order to conceive, plan, design, construct, and operate the essential facilities associated with community and rural health.” “aid in the establishment and operation of the educational and research facilities and the training programs required for each particular case.”

Kilcawley’s SOLUTION (Cont.) The fundamental problem toward effective control of the environment is the relationship between organisms, man, and his environment. This is inherently ecological in nature.

Sanitary engineering was the forerunner of environmental engineering Dr. William Pitt Mason, former Head of the Dept. of Chemistry –Long-recognized authority on water and wastewater treatment –Authored first text of water supply from the sanitary point of view –First edition published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc in –Early instruction emphasized the chemical aspects of water supply and wastewater treatment –Graduates became our first water chemists and plant operators –Instruction in water supply was required of all engineering students –Rensselaer graduates have been prominent in water supply and pollution control since that time The Early Role of Rensselaer

The Engineering Profession & Public Health Need broad understanding of sciences and engineering require a broad educational experience and, a greater proficiency in phases of the problem Need a “special” rather than a “specialized” education Interdisciplinary curricula in environmental engineering: “…that portion of the science of environmental control in which engineering is used to conserve and develop the world’s resources for the well-being of man, as indicated by comfort, convenience, and the absence of disease.”

Rensselaer & the Environmental Engineering Profession: Post World War II Rensselaer met these times in two progressive steps: 1.In the mid 1940s an expanded option in sanitary engineering in its Civil Engineering curriculum was established 2.Recognized early on, the emerging complexity of environmental problems and the inadequacy of traditional curricula

In 1955, Rensselaer embarked on the establishment of a new interdisciplinary program in environmental engineering, under the direction of Professor Edward J. Kilcawley.

Edward J. Kilcawley Professor of Environmental Engineering