Frederick George Pohland Medal
2024 Frederick George Pohland Medal Recipient:
Detlef Knappe, Ph.D.
S. James Ellen Distinguished Professor
NC State University
Detlef Knappe is the S. James Ellen Distinguished Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at NC State University. He received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and he joined the NC State faculty in 1996. He is the Deputy Director of NC State’s Superfund Center “Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS” and is a member of the Center for Human Health and the Environment.
Dr. Knappe is interested in drinking water quality and treatment, the fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in natural and engineered systems, water reuse, organic micropollutants, and human exposure pathways. He is a member of the North Carolina Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board, and he serves as Associate Editor of AWWA Water Science. He also serves on the AWWA’s Organic Contaminants Research Committee and the Standards Committee for Activated Carbon.
Detlef Knappe and his students have been the recipients of numerous best paper, best poster, and best thesis awards. He is a recipient of the AWWA A. P. Black Research Award, the Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize, the Green Tie Award of the NC League of Conservation Voters, the Pelican Award of the NC Coastal Federation, an NCSU Outstanding Engagement Award, and an NCSU Outstanding Teacher Award.
Past Winners
Previous distinguished recipients of this honor include:
Year |
Recipient |
2023 |
Berrin Tansel, Ph.D, P.E., BCEE |
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.