Hazardous Waste Coalition, World Engineering Partnership For Sustainable Development Founder Named Distinguished Member of National Civil Engineering Society
Reston , Va. — Donald V.N. Roberts, P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, founder of the Hazardous Waste Coalition and the World Engineering Partnership for Sustainable Development (WEPSD), was recently named a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). ASCE’s highest accolade, distinguished membership recognizes eminence in a branch of engineering. The active roster of Distinguished Members is comprised of only 198 of the Society’s 146,000 members worldwide. Roberts will be formally inducted, in honor of his contributions to bringing the principles of sustainability into the lexicon of the engineering profession , Oct. 29, 2009, at ASCE’s 139th Annual Civil Engineering Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
With 50 years of experience as a geotechnical and environmental engineer, Roberts has been in the forefront of incorporating sustainability into the engineering profession. He was instrumental in ensuring sustainability’s inclusion in the ABET/EAC General Criteria and as one of the 24 outcomes in the Second Edition of ASCE’s Body of Knowledge. In 2002, he published Engineers and Sustainable Development, widely used in college engineering courses.
Roberts’ service as president of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations’ (WFEO) Committee on Technology from 2001 through 2003 continued his dialogue on sustainability, an effort recognized by him being presented the organization’s Distinguished Achievement in the Service of Humanity Medal.
Roberts’ career includes both engineering and managerial responsibility on more than 500 projects in 20 countries around the world. He has served in executive positions with Dames and Moore and CH2M Hill, and he is active with Engineers Without Borders-USA, where he recently completed a term serving on the group’s board of directors. Among his other professional activities, Roberts has served as president and chair of WEPSD, and as a member of ASCE’s Task Committee on Sustainable Development.
Roberts received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Stanford University. A registered professional engineer in California, Roberts is a resident of Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 146,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. For more information, visit www.asce.org.
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