This award is given annually to recognize the significant contributions of Professor O'Melia to environmental engineering education and will be awarded to an environmental engineering or science professor who has a record of excellent teaching in the classroom and through graduate student advising; significant research achievements that have contributed to environmental engineering knowledge; and an outstanding record of influence through mentoring of former students and colleagues. The recipient of this award will receive a plaque, a cash prize of $1500, and a $750 travel allotment to attend the awards ceremony.
Refer to the nomination package for the required submission requirements.
Professor Charles R. O'Melia (1934-2010) had a major role in the education of hundreds of students who studied environmental sciences and engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard University, the University of North Carolina, and Johns Hopkins University. He was a preeminent teacher, and was considered one of the leading researchers in water and wastewater treatment, aquatic colloid chemistry, and modeling of natural and engineered systems. Dr. O'Melia received numerous awards throughout his distinguished career including election to the National Academy of Engineering in 1989. Professor O'Melia's former students recognize him not only for his excellent teaching and research contributions, but also for his truly inspirational mentoring that impacted their professional careers and their personal lives. He had great influence on his faculty colleagues at Georgia Tech, Harvard, University of North Carolina, Johns Hopkins, and at other universities throughout the United States and throughout the world through his high academic and professional standards, philosophy, and dedication. As a result of his excellence in teaching and research and his outstanding mentoring of students and colleagues, Professor O'Melia continues to educate us through the teaching and research of his former students.
AEESP thanks the generosity of the donors to the Charles O'Melia Award Fund and the Charles O'Melia Award Fund Steering Committee and AEESP Foundation for their efforts to endow this award.
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
| 2024 | Chad T. Jafvert, Purdue University |
| 2023 | Alan T. Stone, Johns Hopkins University |
| 2021 | Michael K. Stenstrom, UCLA |
| 2020 | R. Scott Summers, University of Colorado, Boulder |
| 2019 | John Tobiason, University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| 2018 | James Mihelcic, University of South Florida |
| 2017 | Mitchell J. Small, Carnegie Mellon University |
| 2016 | James Edzwald, University of Massachusetts |
| 2015 | Gene F. Parkin, University of Iowa |
| 2014 | Menachem Elimelech, Yale University |
| 2013 | Philip C. Singer, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
| 2012 | Desmond F. Lawler, University of Texas at Austin |