Perry L. McCarty
With great sadness, The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering announces that our colleague and dear friend, Professor Emeritus Perry L. McCarty, passed away on June 4, 2023.
Professor McCarty joined Stanford University in 1962. He was one of the world’s leading environmental engineers, having created a scientific approach for the biological treatment of water for purification, wastewater reclamation and groundwater treatment that is used worldwide. He pioneered scientific principles for anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment and contaminant control in aquifers. His outstanding research contributions have formed the basis for significant improvements in water quality, wastewater treatment and reclamation, and groundwater decontamination.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering extends our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and students.
Biography
Perry L. McCarty, Silas H. Palmer Professor Emeritus, was recruited to Stanford University in 1962 to help develop the environmental engineering and science program. From 1980 to 1985 he was Chairman of Stanford's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and from 1989 to 2002 he served as Director of the Western Region Hazardous Substance Research Center. He received a B.S. Degree in civil engineering from Wayne State University (1953), and M.S. (1957) and Sc.D. (1959) degrees in sanitary engineering from M.I.T.
The focus of Professor McCarty's research and teaching has been on water with a primary interest in biological processes for the control of environmental contaminants. His early research was on anaerobic treatment processes, biological processes for nitrogen removal and water reuse. His later interests focused on aerobic and anaerobic processes for treatment of domestic wastewaters, and the movement, fate, and control of groundwater contaminants.
His numerous awards and accolades for pioneering work on solving the challenges of clean water include memberships in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. McCarty won the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 1992, the Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Water Science and Technology in 1997, and the Stockholm Water Prize in 2007. In 2011 the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Foundation established the Perry L. McCarty AEESP Founder's Award, given annually in recognition of McCarty's significant contributions to environmental engineering education, research, and practice. The Directorship of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, was named in his honor.
McCarty wrote and co-authored over 350 papers, plus the textbooks, "Chemistry for Environmental Engineering and Science", and "Environmental Biotechnology - Principles and Applications".
Honors and Awards
- Inductee, Engineering & Science Hall of Fame, Dayton, Ohio (2019)
- Stanford Engineering Hero, School of Engineering, Stanford University (2016)
- Gordon Maskew Fair Award, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (2014)
- Joan Hodges Queneau Palladium Medal, National Audubon Society (2013)
- Distinguished Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (2012)
- Fellow, Water Environment Federation (2012)
- Honorary Fellow, The Chinese Institute of Environmental Engineering, Taiwan (2011)
- Honorary Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology, China (2011)
- Honorary Professor, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan (2011)
- Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2010)
- Honorary Member, American Academy of Environmental Engineers (2009)
- Water Industry Hall of Fame, American Water Works Association (2009)
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Brown and Caldwell (2008)
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Groundwater Resources Association of California (2008)
- Stockholm Water Prize, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) (2007)
- Abel Wolman Distinguished Lecturer, National Academies (2001)
- The Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize, National Water Research Institute (1997)
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1996)
- J. James R. Croes Medal, American Society of Civil Engineers (1995)
- Fellow, California Council on Science and Technology (1994)
- Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (1993)
- Founder's Award, Association of Environmental Engineering Professors (1992)
- Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (1992)
- Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, University of Southern California (1992)
- CH2M HILL Research Award, Association of Environmental Engineering Professors (1990, 1997)
- A. P. Black Research Award, American Water Works Association (1989)
- Honorary Member, Water Environment Federation (1989)
- Outstanding Publication Award, Association of Environmental Engineering Professors (1985, 1988, 1998, 2003)
- Distinguished Professor Lectureship, Association of Environmental Engineering Professors (1984)
- Thomas R. Camp Lecturer Award, Boston Society of Civil Engineers (1983)
- Honorary Member, American Water Works Association (1981)
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (1980)
- Engineering-Science Research Award, Association of Environmental Engineering Professors (1979, 1983, 1992)
- Simon W. Freese Environmental Engineering Lecture Award, American Society of Civil Engineers (1979)
- Member, National Academy of Engineering (1977)
- Thomas Camp Award, Water Environment Federation, for Unique Application of Engineering Research (1975)
- Walter L. Huber Research Award, American Society of Civil Engineers, (1964)
- Harrison P. Eddy Award, Water Environment Federation for Noteworthy Research (1962, 1977)