C. Herb Ward, PhD, MPH, PE, BCEE Foyt Family Chair of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry

The microbial group, led by Dr. Ward, has over 29 years of cumulative experience in the field of biodegradation of industrial wastes, especially those associated with the oil, gas and chemical industries. The group has pioneered the research and development of in situ biorestoration of the subsurface contaminated by gasoline and other hydrocarbons. Related research includes the study of factors affecting the transport of microbes in the subsurface, in situ production of biosurfactants, and the use of hydrogen peroxide as a source of oxygen for in situ biorestoration of contaminated ground water. Dr. Ward's group is involved in numerous projects concerning the microbiology of subsurface systems. For instance, the microbial ecology of hazardous waste disposal sites differing in climatic and geologic features is being investigated to determine and quantify the factors limiting the role of indigenous microbes in the degradation of chemical contaminants.

Following 22 years as chairman of ES&E, Dr. Ward is now director of Rice University's campus-wide Energy and Environmental Systems Institute. He holds professorships in the departments Environmental Science and Engineering and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In 1993 he was awarded the prestigious Foyt Family Chair of Engineering. He is the Director of the DOD Advanced Applied Technology Demonstration Facility, Director of the USEPA-sponsored National Center for Ground Water Research, and Co-Director of the USEPA Hazardous Substances Research Center/South & Southwest. Dr. Ward has served as president of both the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the Society of Industrial Microbiology (SIM), and is currently vice-president of the U.S. National Committee of the International Water Resources Association.

He is Editor-in-Chief of the international journal, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and has authored or co-authored over 200 publications which have appeared in peer reviewed journals, as chapters in books, and in proceedings of conferences, symposia, etc. He has co-edited ten books.

Dr. Ward teaches Introduction to Environmental Systems.

Education
B.S., Biology, New Mexico State University, 1955
M.S., Plant Pathology, Genetics, Cornell University, 1958
Ph.D., Plant Pathology, Genetics, Plant Physiology, Cornell University, 1960
M.P.H., Environmental Health, University of Texas, 1978

Areas of Research
Environmental Microbiology: In situ biorestoration of the subsurface contaminated with gasoline and other petroleum derived hydrocarbons; microbiology of subsurface systems; factors affecting the transport of microbes in the subsurface; in situ production of biosurfactants; the use of hydrogen peroxide as a source of oxygen for in situ biorestoration of contaminated ground water.

Professional Activities
• Director, Energy and Environmental Systems Institute
• Director, Advanced Applied Environmental Technology Demonstration Facility
• Director, National Center for Ground Water Research
• Director, Superfund University Training Institute
• Co-Director, Hazardous Substance Research Center/South and Southwest
• Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• International Advisory Board, Enzyme and Microbial Technology
• Fellow: American Academy of Microbiology; Society for Industrial Microbiology
• Vice President, International Water Research Association, U.S. National Committee
• Chair, NAS/NRC CEMT Subcommittee on Subsurface Contaminants
• Chair, NAS/NRC CEMT Peer Review Subcommittee
• Guest Editor, Journal of Industrial Microbiology