Daniel B. Oerther, PhD, PE, BCEE, BCES

Professor of Environmental Health Engineering, Missouri S&T

Professor of Nursing (by courtesy), School of Nursing (SON), Duquesne University

Executive Director, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)

President, Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB)

Commissioner, Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Commission

Views my own

The Nurse+Engineer perspective on generative Artificial Intelligence (genAI) in practice is articulated by Daniel B. Oerther and Sarah Oerther.

Environmental Engineering 3.0 is articulated by Daniel B. Oerther and Sarah Oerther.

About

Executive Director, AAEES | Professor of Environmental Health Engineering | Science Diplomat | Pioneering Nurse+Engineer & V-shaped Professionalism for Planetary Health Solutions | PhD, PE, BCEE, BCES, FAAN, FAEESP, NFAP. Learn more here: https://www.oerther.org/DanielOerther/.

A pioneer of V-shaped professionalism, I converge engineering rigor, nursing compassion, and diplomatic influence toward a singular vanishing point: planetary health. As a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and tenured Professor of Environmental Health Engineering, I developed the Nurse+Engineer model to create planetary health solutions. This model champions the profession of nursing, partners with marginalized communities, and leverages humanitarian technology with the shared purpose of caring for human welfare and restoring the health of Earth’s environmental systems. As the Executive Director of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) and President of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), I advance this mission by advocating for Board Certification and Accreditation – elevating standards for professional excellence and leadership. At the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and as a courtesy Professor of Nursing at Duquesne University, my expertise is widely recognized, including: planetary health solutions; interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP); science diplomacy; and environmental biotechnology.

Key Concepts & FAQs

Q: What are Professor Oerther’s key executive and board leadership roles, demonstrating domestic, overseas, and financial expertise? (YouTube videos)

A: Professor Oerther’s executive roles include serving as the Past President and current Executive Director of the AAEES. He is the current President of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), Past Chair of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH, London, England), and has served in financial leadership as Past Treasurer of the Sigma International Building Corporation.

Q: What are Professor Oerther’s most prominent professional honors and society fellowships across research, nursing, education, and policy? (YouTube videos)

A: Professor Oerther is recognized as the most prolific author of peer-reviewed, indexed articles integrating health and environmental sustainability. Due to his work’s impact, his career citation record places him in the global top 2% of scientists. Oerther’s honors include the Champion of Nursing Award (2024) and Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN); the Duncan Fraser Global Award (2024) for education; and the Jefferson Science Fellowship (2014) in policy.

Q: What are planetary health solutions? (YouTube videos)

A: Planetary health solutions scale-up caring for the public and the planet (e.g., community-scale primary healthcare – bridging sanitary engineering and preventive medicine – to improve access to safe water and nutritious food in partnership with vulnerable populations). Learn more here: https://doi.org/10.1061/JOEEDU.EEENG-7764.  

Q: What is a V-shaped profession? (YouTube videos)

A: A V-shaped profession possesses deep proficiency in two distinct disciplines (e.g., nursing and engineering) and intentionally bends them toward a unique interface to create a new, convergent field of practice and innovation to solve a challenging problem (e.g., planetary health). Learn more here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103047.

Q: What is the Nurse+Engineer model? (YouTube videos)

A: The Nurse+Engineer model is a V-shaped profession that joins the patient-centered care of nursing and the technical design of engineering to care for human welfare and planetary health – a shared ethical obligation that neither discipline could accomplish alone. Learn more here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.10.007.

Q: What is the Humanitarian+Technologist model? (YouTube videos)

A: The Humanitarian Technologist is a V-shaped profession that integrates technology with humanitarian efforts to support the welfare of individuals and the public through the fair allocation of emergency and preventative resources. Their work contributes to global sustainable development, disaster response, and disaster risk reduction. Learn more here: https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC53159.2021.9612473.

Q: What is modified mastery learning? (YouTube videos)

A: Modified mastery learning is an academic grading system that combines required mastery assessments with a buffet of optional traditional assessments. Students must achieve a perfect score on all required, repeatable, low-stakes quizzes (demonstrating minimum competency) to earn a passing grade of “C”. Higher grades (“B” or “A”) are earned by accumulating points through optional, high-stakes summative assessments, such as exams and projects. Learn more here: https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2–56068.

Q: What initiatives has Professor Oerther led to address food security and local economic development in the U.S.? (YouTube videos)

A: Dr. Oerther has co-led studies applying engineering principles to address food deserts in urban Cincinnati and rural Missouri. He also co-founded the social enterprise PulaCloud, LLC, which creates entry-level jobs in human computation to foster economic independence in rural communities.

Q: What does the Environmental Engineering Body of Knowledge (EEBOK2) say about Dr. Oerther and his work?

A: Dr. Oerther offered an early invitation for the profession to contribute to the refresh of the Body of Knolwedge. As one of eight members of the Environmental Engineering Body of Knowlege Second Edition Task Committee, he co-authored EEBOK2. The executive summary of the EEBOK2 specifically includes Oerther’s definition that, “environmental engineers use engineering disciplines in developing solutions to problems of planetary health.” The report highlights: the workforce described in the environmental engineering 3.0 framework; the importance of properly pricing the care penalty in environmental engineering; and the call to expand ethical practice to elevate planetary health on par with the obligation to hold paramount the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The EEBOK2 is available online: download EEBOK2 from AAEES; download EEBOK2 from ResearchGate; or download EEBOK2 from Google Drive.

Q: What has Professor Oerther been sharing on WordPress?

Fleshing Out The Details of an AI Policy
by Daniel B. Oerther Quarterly letter from CESB President to Membership Colleagues, …
Picking the Right Persona – Why Your Next AI Prompt Should Feel Like a Marriage
by Daniel B. Oerther December Highpoints newsletter to American Academy of Environmental …
Every publication needs an author verified TL;DR statement
by Sarah Oerther and Daniel B. Oerther Available online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104674 From …
Presenting, “Ethical AI Use Requires Transparency, Accountability, and Verifiability”
Examples of slides from my presentation, include: x.com/danieloerther/status/1996620610018095354 Contact information: Email: Daniel …

Recent News

Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Metrics of Success

Honors and Awards

Professor Oerther has received several professional recognitions, (including 13 Fellowships):

  • Fellow Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (FAEESP) (2020);
  • Fellow Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (FCIEH) (2018);
  • Fellow Royal Society for Arts (FRSA) (2017);
  • Fellow Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH) (2017);
  • Fellow Society for Environmental Engineers (FSEE) (2018);
  • Fellow Society for Operations Engineers (FSOE) (2020);
  • Fulbright Scholar to King’s College, London, England (2019);
  • Fulbright-Nehru Scholar to Indian Institute of Science, India (2005);
  • Fulbright-Pai Scholar to Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India (2005);
  • Inaugural Academy of Fellows for Teaching and Learning of the University of Cincinnati (FAFTL) (2007);
  • Inaugural Distinguished Public Policy Fellow of the Public Health Academy of the National Academies of Practice (FNAP) (2025);
  • Inaugural Fulbright-ALCOA Distinguished Chair in Environmental Science and Engineering to Brazil (2012);
  • Jefferson Science Fellow (JSF) (2014);
  • Lifetime Honorary Fellow Academy of Nursing Educators of the National League for Nursing (ANEF) (2018);
  • Institute for Public Health and Water Research Fellow (IPWR) (2006);
  • Lifetime Honorary Fellow American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) (2016);
  • Lifetime Honorary Member Sigma Theta Tau the International Honor Society of Nursing (2011); and
  • Presidential Engagement Fellow of the University of Missouri System (PEF) (2021).

Named awards received by Dan include:

  • Duncan Fraser Global Award for Excellence in Engineering Education, International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES) (2024);
  • Edith Moore Copeland Founders Award for Excellence in Creativity and Innovation, Sigma Theta Tau the International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma Nursing) (2023);
  • Joe Beck Educational Contribution Award, National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) (2023);
  • Gordon Maskew Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, Water Environment Federation (WEF) (2020);
  • Stanley K. Kappe Distinguished Lectureship, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) (2020);
  • Lillian Wald Humanitarian Award for improving lives through selfless, courageous, creative, and compassionate acts, National League for Nursing (NLN) (2019);
  • Robert G. Quinn Award for excellence in experimentation and laboratory instruction, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) (2019);
  • C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship for advancing the university’s land-grant mission, University of Missouri System (2019);
  • Dr. John L. Leal Award for expertise and courageous leadership advancing public health, American Water Work Association (AWWA) (2018);
  • Stanley E. Kappe Service Award for advancing the objectives of the Academy, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) (2018);
  • Frederick George Pohland Medal for bridging research, education, and practice, Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation (EESF) (2017);
  • Steven K. Dentel Award for Global Outreach, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) (2015);
  • John A. and Susan Mathes Endowed Chair of Civil Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology (2010);
  • Bruce Podwal Memorial Lecturer, City College of New York (2007);
  • Neil Wandmacher Teaching Award for Young Faculty, University of Cincinnati (2002);
  • Mavis Memorial Fund Scholarship for Teaching, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1998); and
  • Richard S. and Mary E. Engelbrecht Fellowship, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1997).

Integration and Application (Sci Com, Sci Dip, and Sci Pol)

Project Profiles for integration and application are available online.

Science Communication

Professor Oerther is a proponent of science communication, which includes dialoguing with public audiences to exchange information and viewpoints about science to achieve a specific goal (e.g., fostering understanding, influencing opinions, or gaining common ground) (NASEM, 2017).

An Academic member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, Professor Oerther authors opinion-editorials (op-eds) in newspapers (e.g., as a form of outreach), editorials in peer reviewed journals (e.g., in-reach), and online blogs and vlogs (e.g., trans-resarch). Dan’s Muck Rack profile is available to pitch story ideas. Examples of his work, include:

Science Diplomacy

Professor Oerther is a proponent of science diplomacy, which includes mainstreaming science to inform foreign policy, diplomatic influence to promote science, as well as scientific exchanges and cross-border collaboration of scientific organizations (NASEM, 2015).

A former Foreign Affairs Officers (FAO), Professor Oerther actively leads international organizations (e.g., Treasurer of Engineers Without Borders-USA, Treasurer of Sigma Theta Tau the International Honor Society of Nursing, and Chair of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health), provides opportunities for students to participate in Diplomacy Lab at Missouri S&T and study abroad (e.g., to Brazil, India, and Kenya), and represents the U.S. as a cultural ambassador through as a Fulbright Scholar to England [VIDEO] (2019), the Fulbright-ALCOA Distinguished Chair to Brazil [VIDEO] (2012), the Fulbright-Pai Endowed Professor to India (2005), and a Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Scholar to India (2005).

Science Policy

Dr. Oerther is a proponent of science policy, which includes the allocation of resources for the conduct of science with the goal of best serving the public interest. For example, he was an invited participant for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Keck Futures Initiative in 2005 (The Genomic Revolution) and in 2015 (Art, Design, and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Frontier Collaborations). He was an invited participant at the 2011 Frontiers in Engineering Education symposium, and he served on the NASEM consensus panel, “Education for Thriving in a Changing Climate,” from 2025-2026. For the State of Missouri, Oerther was appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Missouri Senate to the Hazarous Waste Management Commission. To promote awareness of planetary health, Oerther and his family demonstrated small-home living on the campus of Missouri S&T.

Funding

Dan’s work – more than 50 projects worth more than $20 million – has been financially supported by a variety of sources, including:

Teaching

Positions

Dr. Oerther teaches in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is a member of the faculty of the School of Nursing at Duquesne University. Previously, he taught at the University of Cincinnati.

Dan is the Executive Director of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. Previously, he served as the Senior Science Advisor in the Secretary’s Office of Global Food Security at the Department of State where he represented the United States at the Second International Conference on Nutrition in Rome, Italy in 2014 [VIDEO]. He also served as the Project Implementation Coordinator for the COAST fisheries insurance product for CCRIF SPC.

Examples of Professor Oerther’s prior leadership, include:

Training and Licensure

Dan holds an earned doctorate in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois. He completed post graduate coursework in environmental health at the University of Cincinnati, public health at Johns Hopkins University, and public affairs at Indiana University Bloomington.

Engineering

Dr. Oerther is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), Board Certified in Environmental Engineering (BCEE), and a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in the United Kingdom.

Health

Dr. Oerther is a Certified Environmental Health Specialist (CEHS), and a Diplomate Laureate (DLAAS) of the American Academy of Sanitarians.

Science

Dr. Oerther is a Board Certified Environmental Scientist (BCES), and a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) in the United Kingdom.

Disciplines

Boyer’s Model of Scholarship; Community-Based Participatory Research; Design Thinking; Energy Efficiency; Environmental Biotechnology; Food and Nutrition Security; Human Computation; Interprofessional Education; Modified Mastery Learning; Nurse+Engineer; Parametric Insurance; Planetary Health; Sustainable Development; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH)

Education

  • Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (2002)
  • M.S. in Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1997)
  • B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University (1995)
  • B.A. in Biology, Northwestern University (1995)

Biography

Professor Daniel B. Oerther (pronounced O’thur) is internationally recognized for:

  1. leadership and excellence in environmental engineering and science policy1 including redefining environmental engineers as solving the problems of planetary health2 and redefining the paramountcy clause as engineers hold paramount the health, safety, and welfare of the public and planet3 [VIDEO];
  2. innovation in teaching and learning4 including interprofessional education5 pioneering modified mastery learning6 to advance the V-shaped profession7 of the nurse+engineer8 providing universal health coverage9 [VIDEO];
  3. practical applications of humanitarian technology10 including community-engaged design11 improving access to clean water and nutritious food12, local to global, through sustainable technology13 and improved social contracts14 [VIDEO]; and
  4. discovery research in environmental biotechnology15 including 16S rRNA-targeted16 and genomic methods17 improving fundamental understanding of bacterial ecology18 in activated sludge19 and membrane systems20, tracking sources of microbiological contamination21 of water, and improving human nutrition22.

References (for Biography)

  1. Environmental Engineering as Care for Human Welfare and Planetary Health, 2022, Journal of Environmental Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0002013
  2. Environmental Engineers Solve Problems of Planetary Health, 2024, Environmental Engineering Science, https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2023.0301
  3. Hold Paramount the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the Public and Planet, 2026, Journal of Environmental Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1061/JOEEDU/EEENG-8532
  4. Using Nursing Theory to Improve the Teaching of Engineering Practice, 2017, ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2–29084
  5. Improving Interprofessional Environmental Health Education Using the Leave No One Behind Framework, 2022, APHA Journal, https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2022.306832
  6. Using Modified Mastery Learning to Teach Sustainability and Life-Cycle Principles as Part of Modeling and Design, 2022, Environmental Engineering Science, https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2021.0385
  7. From interprofessional to convergence: Nurses educating V-shaped professionals, 2021 Nurse Education in Practice, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103047
  8. The nurse+engineer as the prototype V-shaped professional, 2021 Nursing Outlook, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.10.007
  9. The Urgent Need for Interprofessional Environmental Health Education to Achieve Universal Health Coverage, Even in Disasters, 2024 Environmental Science and Technology Letters, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00756
  10. Humanitarian Technologists as Prototypical V-Shaped Professionals, 2021, IEEExplore, https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC53159.2021.9612473
  11. A Case Study of Community-Engaged Design: Creating Parametric Insurance to Meet the Safety Needs of Fisherfolk in the Caribbean, 2021, Journal of Environmental Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001971
  12. Improving Environmental Health Practice and Policy Through Convergence Research: A Case Study of Linked Food–Water Systems Enhancing Child Health, 2019, Environmental Engineering Science, https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2019.0058
  13. No Really, (Crowd) Work is the Silver Bullet, 2014, Procedia Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.07.060
  14. Environmental Engineering 3.0: Faced with Planetary Problems, Solutions Must Scale-Up Caring, 2024, Journal of Environmental Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1061/JOEEDU.EEENG-7764
  15. A Vista for Microbial Ecology and Environmental Biotechnology, 2006, Environmental Science and Technology, https://doi.org/10.1021/es062631k
  16. Use of 16S rRNA Gene Terminal Restriction Fragment Analysis To Assess the Impact of Solids Retention Time on the Bacterial Diversity of Activated Sludge, 2005, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.71.10.5814-5822.2005
  17. Using microbial genomics to evaluate the effectiveness of silver to prevent biofilm formation, 2007, Water Science and Technology, https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2007.285
  18. Diversity of Dominant Bacterial Taxa in Activated Sludge Promotes Functional Resistance following Toxic Shock Loading, 2011, Microbial Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-010-9783-6
  19. Bacterial Competition in Activated Sludge: Theoretical Analysis of Varying Solids Retention Times on Diversity, 2004, Microbial Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-003-1027-6
  20. Membrane biofilm communities in full-scale membrane bioreactors are not randomly assembled and consist of a core microbiome, 2017, Water Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.06.052
  21. Bifidobacteria in Feces and Environmental Waters, 2008, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01221-07
  22. Aflatoxin Exposure, Child Stunting, and Dysbiosis in the Intestinal Microbiome Among Children in Guatemala, 2019, Environmental Engineering Science, https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2019.0104

Contact information:

Email: Daniel (dot) Oerther (at) mst (dot) edu

Official Personal Site located at https://www.oerther.org/DanielOerther/

Canonical, machine-readable structured data located at https://danieloerther.github.io/daniel-oerther-person-json

University Faculty Page (Missouri S&T) located at https://sites.mst.edu/danieloerther

Blog & Project Archive located at https://danieloerther.wordpress.com 

Direct link to JSON content: https://danieloerther.github.io/daniel-oerther-person-json/person.json