eARth • n e R g y • env iR o n m e n t • - Friends and Alumni of the ...

MeNTOriNg SuCCeSS
“I see part of my role here as that of a mentor, doing the critical work of
preparing graduates who will help fill the increasing gap of qualified scientists
and engineering professionals, particularly in North America,” says Harrison
Western professor Corby g. anderson, who joined the Mines community in August.
“It’s these young people who will solve the problems and challenges we face in energy
and materials, in the U.S. and across the globe.”
Mining engineering alumnus al provost ’62 recently
established the harrison Western professorship of
Metallurgical and Materials engineering, named for
his company, at Mines. “With the harrison Western
professorship, our business is able to maintain ongoing
connections with the academic community specializing
in areas that are of key importance to our work,” says
provost. “We hope this new position will help not only
to expand the school’s expertise in hydrometallurgy, but
also that professor Anderson and his team will create
new knowledge to further hw process Technologies,
inc.’s work as the world leader in industrial process
water reclamation and reuse.”
professor Anderson is excited to take on a position
more engaged academically with students and faculty,
after 12 years as a research center director at Montana
Tech. “part of my motivation for taking on this position,
aside from applying my expertise in hydrometallurgy
to Mines’ unique mission, was to become more fully
entrenched in the academic side of things,” he says.
Anderson is part of the university’s kroll institute for
extractive Metallurgy and a new National
Science foundation-funded partnership
to develop a center for recycling research
and education, which collaborates with
industry to achieve materials sustainability.
With more than 30 years experience in
the global mining, minerals and metals
industries, and expertise in extractive
metallurgy, mineral processing, and waste
minimization and recycling, professor
Anderson is well-suited to help advance
teaching and research in Mines’ focus
areas. “i came into this new professorship
position to apply my background and
strengths in ways that will help enhance
Mines’ capabilities in the extractive
industries,” he says. “And i am grateful for
Al provost and hW process Technologies’
foresight in creating this opportunity – for
me, for Mines and for industry.”
ThirST For
Knowledge
Bringing renowned experts like peter gleick to campus adds
vitality to the Mines academic experience. Gleick, an authority on
water sustainability and head of the Pacific Institute for Studies in
Development, Environment, and Security in Oakland, California, was
the featured speaker at the 2009 Young Environmental Symposium,
an annual lecture event made possible by contributions from the
late Herb ’39 and Dodie Young. In addition to the support the
Youngs provided for the lecture series during their lifetimes, the
couple’s entire estate was bequeathed to Mines and will sustain
the symposium for years to come.
“Bringing a standout in the field of water research to campus
for this year’s Young Symposium was especially relevant
considering our global concern over water resources. Since my
work focuses on water treatment, I was especially encouraged
that his talk brought water issues into focus for members of the
Mines community.”
Katharine dahm, phd Candidate,
environmental Science and engineering
waTer FiTneSS
One of Mines’ newest research centers, the
Advanced Water Technology Center (AQWATEC),
is leading the way in advanced wastewater
treatment research, thanks in large part to
private support. aqua-aerobic Systems, a leader
in the design, manufacturing and application of
municipal and industrial wastewater systems, has
contributed equipment, funding and technical
support for a wastewater test site at Mines
Park and an on-site demonstration wastewater
treatment prototype that has created a one-ofa-kind
opportunity for the school. Since 2007,
Aqua-Aerobic Systems has contributed more
than $175,000 through the Colorado School
of Mines Foundation for site development and
student support. The company also made a
significant investment in the equipment needed
to perform this leading-edge research at Mines.
“We’re exploring the energy-water nexus,” says
Associate Director of AQWATEC Tzahi Cath,
“and looking for cost-effective, sustainable
approaches to water and wastewater treatment,
reclamation and reuse.” With Aqua-Aerobic’s
support, he explains, Mines faculty and students
can take their research further toward the
development of workable solutions to global
water challenges. “We are proud to partner
with such an industry leader and to provide
our special expertise in this arena,” says Cath.
“This is a very important industry tie for Mines—
together, we can make real strides in improving
wastewater treatment system technologies and
energy use efficiency.”
“Our company invests in wastewater technology
and application knowledge, and we’re always
looking for ways to leverage our resources,”
says Aqua-Aerobic Systems President and CEO
Robert J. Wimmer. “Our relationship with Mines
has allowed us access to state-of-the-art thinking
and the latest advances in wastewater technology.
We are proud to be associated with the university,
AQWATEC, and the students and faculty we’ve
had the pleasure to work with at Mines.”
AQWATEC Director Jörg Drewes says, “The
industry partnership we established with Aqua-
Aerobic Systems significantly improved our
research infrastructure and provided for us a
truly unique asset—one that not only attracts
talented students to Mines, but also helps
us bring in additional research funding.” It
is AQWATEC’s hope that the demonstration
system, which they will continue to operate in
partnership with Aqua-Aerobic Systems for
another couple of years, will ultimately serve as
a model for future innovation in this area and
further strengthen Mines’ research mission and
its service to industry and society.
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