Caltech professor wins Stockholm Water Prize

PASADENA—James J. Morgan, who is Marvin L. Goldberger Professor of Environmental Engineering Science and former vice president for student affairs at the California Institute of Technology, has been named cowinner of the $150,000 Stockholm Water Prize for 1999.

He and the other winner, Werner Stumm of Switzerland, will be presented the award by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, in Stockholm in August.

The award is given each year for substantial contributions "to the preservation, enhancement or availability of the world's water resources." The prize is administered by the Stockholm International Water Institute, a scientific, technical, and educational organization that promotes research on and raises awareness of global water issues.

Morgan and Stumm were recognized for research achievements in aquatic chemistry that have led to the development of improved techniques for the treatment of wastewater and drinking water worldwide. Also, they were cited for fundamental discoveries related to acid rain, as well as to the transport of metals and other substances in the water environment.

The two scientists "have for decades been the paramount scientists in the field of aquatic chemistry, which deals with the chemical behaviors of natural waters, and the processes that affect the distribution and circulation of chemical substances in these waters, and far-reaching research achievements in aquatic chemistry," the citation reads.

Morgan earned his bachelor's degree from Manhattan College in New York, his master's from the University of Michigan, and his doctorate from Harvard University. He joined the Caltech faculty as associate professor of environmental health engineering in 1965, and has served in various offices at the Institute through the years.

From 1980 to 1989, he was vice president for student affairs, and also served as dean of students from 1972 to 75, acting dean of graduate studies from 1981 to 84, and acting director of the Environmental Quality Lab. He is former executive officer of environmental engineering science.

His research interests include the chemistry of natural water systems; coagulation processes in aqueous systems; rates of oxidation processes in water; adsorption and surface chemistry; chemistry of water purification; and water quality modeling. With Stumm, he wrote the book Aquatic Chemistry and, with Charles O'Melia and Chin Pao Huang, edited Aquatic Chemistry: Interfacial and Interspecies Processes.