Blumberg delivers keynote presentation at Biennial Conference on Estuarine Research

HOBOKEN, N.J. - Dr. Alan Blumberg, George Mead Bond Professor of Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, was invited to deliver the keynote presentation at the opening of the 17th Biennial Conference of the Estuarine Research Federation held Sept. 14-18, 2003, in Seattle, Wash. The Estuarine Research Federation (ERF) is a multidisciplinary organization with over 1500 members who study and manage the structure and functions of estuaries and the effects of human activities on these fragile environments.

Blumberg's presentation, titled New York/New Jersey Estuary Contaminant Transport Mechanisms examined the physical processes governing the movement and mixing of the waters of the New York and New Jersey estuarine system. The results from several different field programs and a three-dimensional circulation model were used to assess the relative roles on contaminant transport from lateral variations in circulation, tidal trapping and gravitational circulation. This assessment reveals that released contaminants will rapidly disperse throughout most of the estuary and only move seaward slowly over time.

As part of the keynote address, Blumberg presented The Donald W. Pritchard Award to the authors of the paper judged to make the most meritorious contribution to the field of estuarine physics that is published in Estuaries in the 24-month period ending Dec. 2002. The award was established by the ERF to honor Professor Donald W. Pritchard, who passed away in 1998 after retiring from The Johns Hopkins University and The State University of New York at Stony Brook. Pritchard was renowned for his contributions to the understanding of estuarine circulation; he has been called the father of the science of estuarine physics. Professor Blumberg completed his doctoral studies under Pritchard's supervision.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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