OXFORD, Miss. – Clark C.K. Liu, Environmental Engineering Program director for the National Science Foundation, has been named the 2009 Engineer of Distinction by the University of Mississippi.
The title is bestowed annually on an engineer associated with the UM School of Engineering who is truly exceptional. Past winners include Exxon Mobil executives and NASA chiefs.
Liu is a 1969 master’s graduate of UM’s engineering program. He recently completed two federally sponsored research projects: an NSF project to develop an engineering system for open-ocean mariculture using nutrient-rich deep ocean water, and a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation project to develop a wind-powered reverse osmosis system for water desalination and treatment.
“I was very excited by the news of being selected to receive the Engineer of Distinction Award,” Liu said. “It is not only a great honor for me but presents an opportunity for me to revisit a place which has been so important to my personal and professional development.”
He joined the University of Hawaii faculty in 1980 and was promoted to full professor in 1989. For 29 years, Liu served as the principal investigator of more than 10 research projects sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, NSF, USBR and other agencies. He has been program director for environmental engineering since January 2008 by an agreement between the University of Hawaii and NSF.
“An expert in environmental fluid mechanics, Dr. Liu’s research has earned him the appointment in the nation’s most prestigious science and engineering research funding organization,” said Alex Cheng, chair and professor of civil engineering. “The University of Mississippi School of Engineering proudly recognizes him for his career achievements and scholarship.”
A graduate of National Taiwan University, Liu came to Ole Miss in 1967 in response to an offer from Sam DeLeeuw, now retired chair and professor of civil engineering.
“I had a dream that someday I would have an opportunity to work on large rivers. Attending Ole Miss brought me close to the Mississippi River – the longest river in the world, which always fascinated me,” Liu said.
Liu said he received “the best graduate education” at Ole Miss and also enjoyed all aspects of campus life. “At that time, football was a brand new experience for me. It was especially fun to watch the Rebels play and win,” he said.
After earning his UM degree, Liu entered the New York State Division of Water Resources, obtained his New York State Professional Engineer license and received a graduate fellowship from Cornell University to complete his doctorate there in 1979. Liu was invited by the EPA to participate in the National Workshop on verification of water quality models as one of 50 experts.
His research efforts have yielded more than 70 scientific publications. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a member of the Chinese Lutheran Church of Honolulu.
Liu and his wife, Diane, are the parents of three children and three grandchildren.
For more information about the School of Engineering, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/engineering/ .