FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2002:
Environmental Research and Education Foundation Awards
2002 Francois Fiessinger Ph.D. Scholarship to University of Virginia Student
Washington,
D.C. - During its fall meeting held on August 25 in
Houston, Texas, the Environmental Research and Education
Foundation's (EREF) Board of Directors awarded its 2002 Francois Fiessinger
Scholarship to Mira Stone Olson, a Ph.D. student enrolled at the
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Mira
Olson was born in Buffalo, New York. Her interest in
environmental studies stems from "the complicated interplay
between the environment and its inhabitants and
surroundings." Her studies have been based on an
analysis of the overall ground-water system, the transport of
contaminants and bacteria, and the response of bacteria to the
contaminants. Her Ph.D. research focuses on ground-water
remediation, examining how chemotaxis (the movement or
orientation of an organism along a chemical concentration
gradient) affects the transport of bacteria for bioremediation
through low permeable materials.
Ms.
Olson received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.A. in
Environmental Science and Engineering from Rice University
(Houston, Texas) in 1998, and a Masters in Civil Engineering
(Environmental) from the University of Virginia
(Charlottesville, Virginia) in May 2000. She is also an
athlete, linguist, and accomplished violinist.
"Seventy-nine
scholarship applications were received and the process was very
competitive," said Michael J. Cagney, EREF president.
"We are pleased that a hydrologist is this year's recipient
because Francois Fiessinger worked for the
French company Lyonnaise des Eaux for more than 20 years,"
he added.
Ms.
Olson is the first Francois Fiessinger scholarship applicant to
receive the highest rating from each of EREF's Scholarship
Committee members, as well as the highest combined rating by
professors submitting recommendations. She joins EREF's
current scholars, Mr. Alexander Orlov (Cambridge University,
London, United Kingdom), Mr. Richard Statom (Colorado School of
Mines, Golden, Colorado), and Dr. Molly Costanza-Robinson
(University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona).
Scholarships
are awarded by EREF to recognize excellence in Ph.D. or
post-doctoral environmental research and education. Awards
are given in memory of Francois Fiessinger, P.E., Ph.D., a
graduate of Rutgers University, who was
a founding director of the foundation. He passed away at
age 53 on March 11, 1997.
The
Environmental Research and Education Foundation is an
independent public charity; its funding base is derived from
donations from corporations and individuals who are committed to
EREF's mission to develop environmental solutions for the
future.
For
more complete information on EREF, go to its website www.erefdn.org
or call 703.299.5139.
Contact: Ed Repa, Director of Environmental Programs
703.299.5139x11 or erepa@erefdn.org
Anne M.
Brauer, Director of Development and Communications
703.299.5139x10 or abrauer@erefdn.org
Environmental
Research and Education Foundation
(EREF)
120 S. Fayette Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703.299.5139 Fax:
703.299.5145
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