John Fortner Wins ASCE Huber Award

John Fortner has been awarded the 2020 Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Fortner, associate professor of chemical & environmental engineering, was cited by the ASCE for his “pioneering work on the fundamentals and applications of environmental nanotechnology for advanced water treatment and remediation technologies.”

The Huber Award, considered the most significant mid-career achievement award in the field of environmental engineering, has been given by the ASCE 1949. It’s given annually to individuals with notable achievements and contributions in research with respect to all disciplines of civil engineering. In October 1964, Alberta Reed Huber endowed these prizes in honor of her husband, Walter L. Huber, past president, ASCE. 

Jaehong Kim, the Henry P. Becton Sr. Professor and Chair of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, said the award is a credit to the department and a great reflection of the quality of Fortner’s research. 

“It’s an honor well-deserved for work that has led to breakthroughs in water technologies and important contributions to the field,” he said. 

Fortner has been with Yale since early 2019. His research focuses on advancing water-related technologies and understanding, as well as engineering novel material interfaces as they relate to critical environmental-based health, security, and energy challenges.

The award will be presented to Fortner at the Society’s Annual Convention in October in Anaheim, CA.