EES Seminar: Environmental Chemistry and the Periodic Table – A Personal Adventure, Joseph Delfino, UF

Details

Over the course of his career, Dr. Delfino had the opportunity to conduct laboratory and field-related research that involved various elements and compounds of elements in the Periodic Table. He was stimulated to do his masters and doctoral research studies as well as research with his mentors and his graduate students and colleagues in the years following the publication of Rachel Carson’s 1962 book “Silent Spring.” That book was soon succeeded by a special issue in 1964 of Chemical & Engineering News dealing with Chemistry and the Oceans, Thereafter, the first “Earth Day” that occurred in many locations in the USA was celebrated in April, 1970. To this day, there are related celebrations in April every year, keeping not only Rachel’s pioneering work as an environmental advocate in society’s mind, but also encouraging others to consider their impacts on the environment in their daily actions. Many EES students no doubt have their own personal reasons for deciding to study in the environmental engineering field, and your presence in the seminar today and the EES Program itself is a testament to your commitment to the environment and also, of course, to your interest in getting a job in this field.

Dr. Joseph (Joe) Delfino retired in 2014 from the University of Florida (UF) Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences (EES) as Professor Emeritus after 32-years of service. He is currently a Courtesy Professor Emeritus in EES where he teaches (Un)Common Reading Book courses to undergraduate Honors Students. At UF, he served as Professor from 1982 – 2014 and as EES Department Chairman from January 1990 through August 1999 and as Interim Chairman during 2002-2003. He also served as the Graduate Coordinator from 1990 to 2007. Prior to joining the UF faculty, he served on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the U.S. Air Force Academy as a 1LT and Captain in the USAF. At the Academy, he progressed in academic rank from Instructor through Assistant Professor and completed his military service and Academy assignment as an Associate Professor. His earned academic degrees are: BS in Chemistry (Holy Cross College in Massachusetts); MS in Chemistry (Fluorine Chemistry, U. of Idaho); and the PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering (water chemistry, limnology, and oceanography) from the U. of Wisconsin-Madison). In 2015, he received the professional credential as a Board Certified Environmental Scientist from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists [AAEES].