PAUL V. ROBERTS (1938-2006)

BY MICHAEL C. KAVANAUGH

PAUL VANDERBILT ROBERTS, C.L. Peck, Class of 1906 Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, died of leukemia at his home in Cupertino, California, on Feb. 12, 2006.

Paul was born on Nov. 27, 1938, in Washington, D.C., to Ruth and Willard Roberts. He received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University in 1960 and a Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University in 1966. Paul spent nearly a year as a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Valparaíso and the Technical University in Santa María, Chile, where, by his second semester, he was lecturing in Spanish. He later moved to California to work as a process engineer for Chevron Research Company. In 1968, he joined the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, where he worked for four years. His interest in nature and growing concern over industrial pollution — sparked not only by images of the burning Cuyahoga River but also by the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring — led him to pursue an M.S. degree in environmental engineering, which he received from Stanford in 1971. Subsequently, he joined the Swiss Federal Institute of Water Supply and Water Pollution Control, in Dübendorf, Switzerland, near Zürich. There, he served as manager of the Engineering Department, and lectured at the Eidgenoössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) in Zürich. In 1976, he began his career at Stanford as a research professor. After receiving a tenure track appointment as an associate professor in 1981 and a promotion to full professor in 1986, Paul was appointed the C.L. Peck, Class of 1906 Professor in the School of Engineering in 1989. He served as associate chairman of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 1985 to 1990, and then moved on to become an emeritus professor in 2000.

A pioneer in applying fundamental principles of mass transport and chemistry to drinking water treatment and wastewater reclamation research, Paul applied these same principles to studying the fate and transport of dissolved chemicals in the subsurface under both natural and engineered conditions. He led a team of researchers evaluating the potential for reclaiming wastewater for potable use through advanced treatment processes, followed by injection and storage in an underground aquifer. His work focused on understanding key physico-chemical processes affecting disinfection and contaminant removal in water and wastewater treatment, including adsorption and volatilization processes, as well as contaminant transport in the subsurface environment. Regarding the latter, he not only conducted numerous conceptual and laboratory investigations but also conceived and directed the first and most definitive field study on the movement and fate of hazardous organic chemicals — primarily chlorinated solvents — in groundwater at the Borden site in Canada. Paul and his team demonstrated the scientific value of carefully designed large-scale field experiments used to test hypotheses, validate mathematical models, and improve understanding of natural processes. Their research also identified critical questions requiring further theoretical study. These investigations had a profound impact on the engineering design of remediation systems for contaminated groundwater. In the 1980s, the prevailing cleanup approach — using groundwater extraction to achieve drinking water standards — was found to be deeply flawed, leading to longer remediation timelines, higher costs, as well as the need for enhanced treatment at contamination sources. By bringing together an interdisciplinary team of hydrogeologists, chemists, microbiologists, and engineers, Paul demonstrated the value of integrating data drawn from laboratory studies, field studies, and theory to solve complex environmental problems.

Paul received numerous awards and distinctions throughout his career. He was honored with multiple academic achievement awards, including from the American Water Works Association (1985, 1986, 1987); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Scientific and Technical Achievement Award (1989); the U.S. National Committee of the International Association on Water Pollution Research and Control Founders Award (1990); the Founders Award, U.S. National Committee of the International Association on Water Pollution Research and Control (1990); and the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Founders Award (2003). He was elected to the Swiss Academy of Sciences in 1988 and the National Academy of Engineering in 1997.

Paul also served on numerous National Research Council studies and boards, including the U.S. National Committee of the United Nations Scientific Committee on Problems in the Environment (U.S. SCOPE, 1988-90); the Board on Radioactive Waste Management, Review Panel on Hanford Single-Shell Tank Waste Storage (1987-89); the Review Panel on Environmental Management Technologies (1995-99); the Water Science and Technology Board, Committee on Groundwater Cleanup Alternatives (1991-94); and the Review Panel on Evaluation of Ground Water Resources (1994-96).

A prolific writer, speaker, and collaborator in numerous technical fields addressing major environmental engineering problems of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Paul mentored more than 25 doctoral engineering students through their theses at Stanford. He and his colleagues patented the pulsing of electron donor and electron acceptor for enhanced biotransformation of chemicals in 1991 (U.S. Patent No. 5,006,250). From 1977 onwards, he authored or co-authored more than 120 peer-reviewed articles in leading environmental engineering and science journals, many of which were groundbreaking and impactful, and several were honored as the best papers published in respected research journals.^* He also contributed more than 60 articles in conference proceedings, authored more than 20 technical book chapters, and produced numerous technical reports. Widely recognized as an exceptional teacher and mentor, he was invited to lecture at academic institutions across the U.S. and Europe.

Paul was a Renaissance engineer with a broad range of intellectual interests and outside pursuits. He was passionate about his work, his students, and his career, while always maintaining focus on his greater interest: his family. A proficient guitar player, he loved folk music, particularly the work of singer-songwriter Kate Wolf. His garden exploits were widely admired, and the annual gatherings — organized by his wife, Inge, and others — at Big Sur every spring brought joy to many. He was known as a very conscientious teacher and student mentor. Generous with his time, he was always available for conversations and guidance. His personal qualities and unique attributes are best reflected in the words of those he impacted most. Here are some comments from academic colleagues:

“Speaking personally, Paul was a dear friend and mentor. He was a role model for me and a generation of environmental engineers for his approach to environmental research and his commitment to democratic ideals and peace. He will be remembered for his passionate pursuit of knowledge, his love of music and nature, his generosity and wisdom, and devotion to his family.” Dick Luthy (A Stanford colleague of Paul’s; NAE 1999), speaking at memorial service for Dr. Roberts, 2006

“Paul welcomed graduate students to his home for events, such as the tradition of the making of Raclette by his fireplace before winter break. He was a role model for my later interactions with my graduate students.” Lew Semprini, University Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University (Ph.D. student who studied with Paul, 1992)

“Paul was one of the very best teachers I have ever had. His lectures were extremely well organized, and he liked to deliver them with a little flair to keep everyone’s attention. Whenever someone asked a question, he would stop his lecture and spend whatever time he thought was needed to carefully answer. His course on mass transfer was one of the most valuable to my career, as I still use many of the principles in my own research.” Charles Werth, Professor, UT Austin (Ph.D. student who studied with Paul, 1994)

“Given the magnitude of Paul’s scholarly impacts, the number of students he guided, and the incredible strength and love of his family, it is evident to me that his influence will endure all tests of time. I know that I speak for scores of students, colleagues, friends, and family when I say that our associations with him are things with which we ourselves will cross to safety, and which we will never give to time.” William Ball, Professor, Johns Hopkins University, now retired, speaking at memorial service for Dr. Roberts, 2006 (Ph.D. student who studied with Paul, 1991)

Paul married Inge Ruesch in Ithaca, New York, in October 1965. He is survived by his wife, three children — Nina, Christopher, and Sebastian — and nine grandchildren (as of December 2023).

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^* The following is a small selection of his especially noteworthy publications: Ball WP, Roberts PV. 1991. Long-term sorption of halogenated organic chemicals by aquifer material, 2. Intraparticle diffusion. Environmental Science and Technology 25(7):1237-49; Dawson HE, Roberts PV. 1997. Influence of viscous, gravitational, and capillary forces on DNAPL saturation. Ground Water 35(2):261-69; Mackay DM, Roberts PV, Cherry JA. 1985. Transport of organic contaminants in groundwater: A critical review. Environmental Science and Technology 19(5):384-92; Rittmann BE, McCarty PL, Roberts PV. 1980. Trace organics biodegradation in aquifer recharge. Ground Water 18:236-43; Roberts PV, Goltz MN, Mackay DM. 1986. A natural-gradient experiment on solute transport in a sand aquifer, III. Retardation estimates and mass balances for organic solutes. Water Resources Research 22(13):2047-58; Roberts PV, Hopkins GD, Mackay DM, Semprini L. 1990. A field evaluation of in-situ biodegradation of chlorinated ethenes: Part I, Methodology and field site characterization. Ground Water 28(4):591-604; Semprini L, Hopkins GD, McCarty PL, Roberts PV. 1992. In-situ biotransformation of carbon tetrachloride and other halogenated compounds resulting from biostimulation under anoxic conditions. Environmental Science and Technology 26(12):2454-60; Summers RS, Roberts PV. 1988. Activated carbon adsorption of humic substances. I. Heterodisperse mixtures and desorption. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 122(2):367-81.