Prominent researcher to discuss chemicals, environment during Engineering and Computer Science’s inaugural Nunan Lecture

Prominent researcher to discuss chemicals, environment during Engineering and Computer Science’s inaugural Nunan LectureMarch 15, 2006Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Environmental engineer Keri Hornbuckle will discuss the sources and effects of synthetic organic chemicals in the environment on Thursday, March 30 during the inaugural installment of the Nunan Lectures in Syracuse University’s L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science. Also on that day, ECS graduate students will display their work as part of Nunan Research Day.

The lecture series and research day, as well as a graduate travel fund, were established this year through a gift from the estate of James Nunan ’37 and his wife, Marge.

The Nunan Lecture will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Kilian Room, Room 500 of the Hall of Languages. The lecture is free and open to the public; parking is available in the University’s visitor pay lots.

Hornbuckle is an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Minnesota and has served as president of the International Association for Great Lakes Research. She was a member of the Science Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission and was liaison to the IJC’s International Air Quality Advisory Board.

Nunan, who was an oarsman on SU’s sculling team, graduated from the College of Engineering in 1937 and served in World War II. He enjoyed a long and successful career in the oil industry, and spent much of his career living and working abroad, including Argentina, Peru, Chile, Iran and Tunisia.

“Jim and Marge’s generous gift has enabled the college to attract renowned researchers to campus as well as to celebrate and highlight the research our graduate and undergraduate students conduct each year,” says Eric F. Spina, the Douglas D. Danforth Dean of ECS. “Additionally, the college will continue to fulfill Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s charge that ECS help to lead the University in building its reputation as a top quality research institution.”

The Nunan Lecture Series includes two major research lectures held in the spring and fall of each year. The lectures will be given by a top researcher with expertise in the fields represented by ECS, while at the same time maintaining relevance in the other schools and colleges.

The Nunan Research Day, held in conjunction with the spring Nunan Lecture, gives graduate students the opportunity to display their work through poster sessions and presentations.

Along with the lecture series and research day, the Nunans’ gift enabled the college to create the Nunan Graduate Travel Fund, which financially assists doctoral students who wish to present their work at conferences.