Berrin Tansel, a professor of environmental engineering and undergraduate program director in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Florida International University in Miami, has been selected to receive the 2021 Science Award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists. The award honors an individual who demonstrates leadership, originality, and has innovative solutions to current environmental challenges.
When asked about how she felt about receiving the award, Tansel stated: “I’m humbled and honored. I am happy to see my work be appreciated by my professional society.”
A native of a small town in Turkey, Dr. Tansel is a graduate of Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, where she majored in chemical engineering. She came to the United States to pursue graduate education and earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin.
After completing her doctoral degree, Dr. Tansel was hired as a project manager for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority on the Boston Harbor project. At that time, Boston Harbor was known as the dirtiest harbor in America. It underwent a complete transformation with a $3.8 billion investment in the treatment facilities.
Dr. Tansel then joined the faculty at Florida International Univerity in 1990. Among her research projects have been to build a compact filtration system for oil-water separation for the U.S. Army. She has also worked with NASA to build water filtration systems for space vehicles. She has also worked with the Miami-Dade County’s Water and Sewer Department, to study the efficiency of water treatment processes, water conservation, and to provide long-term solutions to leaks in older pipes.