Shaping University Graduate Programs in Environmental Engineering for Century 21

This paper summarizes the author's views on the appropriate role and functioning of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP), based on the presentations made by the speakers at AEESP's Annual Conference held at Clarkson University at Potsdam, New York, in July 2005. The paper notes that AEESP and also the American Academy of Environmental Engineer (AAEE) were formed in the mid 20th century that their functions were organized to meet the needs of the United States in environmental development for the second half of the 20th century, and while these organizations have achieved much success in their performance in the previous half-century, the picture for the future looks remarkably different. This is because of the increasing acceleration of new technology which is rapidly changing everything, including changing the pattern of economics from country operated systems to an unprecedented new system of globalization. Both AEESP and AAEE now must reorient their roles and functions to expand American professional capabilities to influence continuing development in both the United States and in the developing countries in order to protect as well as to utilize environmental resources as needed to enable sustainable global development. Recommendations are given for feasible steps which American (and other) universities can take for modifying university programs to suit this objective.