Daniel Oerther


Daniel Barton Oerther is an American Professor of Environmental Health Engineering. He is best known for the use of 16S ribosomal RNA-targeted techniques for fundamental studies of the ecology of bacteria in engineered and natural systems, for the use of community-based participatory research to create and evaluate programs and policies to improve access to clean water, nutritious food, and energy efficiency in developing communities, and for innovation in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Life and education

Born in Columbus, OH, Oerther grew up in Louisville, KY, and graduated from Saint Xavier High School. He earned a Baccalaureate of Arts in Biological Sciences and a Baccalaureate of Sciences in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University. He earned a Masters of Science in Environmental Engineering and a doctorate from the University of Illinois. He completed post-doctoral training in microbial ecology at the Marine Biological Laboratory, environmental health at the University of Cincinnati, public health at The Johns Hopkins University, and public administration at Indiana University.

Employment

University of Cincinnati

From 2000 through 2009, Oerther was a member of the faculty of the University of Cincinnati where he served as Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. At Cincinnati, he established the Ohio Center of Excellence in Advanced Energy: Sustaining the Urban Environment, created a campus-wide minor in sustainability, and founded a student chapter of Engineers Without Borders. For his efforts at Cincinnati, in 2007 he was recognized with the President's Excellence Award by Nancy L. Zimpher.

Missouri University of Science and Technology

In 2010, Oerther joined the faculty of the Missouri University of Science and Technology as the John A. and Susan Mathes Endowed Chair of Environmental Engineering. At Missouri, he promoted the Solar Village, established the Diplomacy Lab program on campus, and led student study-abroad to India and Brazil. For his efforts at Missouri, in 2017 he was recognized with the President's Award for Cross-Cultural Engagement by Mun Choi, and in 2019 he received with C. Brice Ratchford Fellowship for advancing the land grant mission of the University of Missouri.

United States Department of State

From 2014–2019, Oerther was a Foreign Affairs Officer at the United States Department of State in the Secretary's Office of Global Food Security where he provided expert advice on agricultural policy. At State, he lead the creation of COAST -. Oerther represented the United States at the Second International Conference on Nutrition, the launch of the Blue Growth Network in St. George's, Grenada, the second Our Ocean Conference in Valparaiso, Chile, and the 43rd plenary session of the Committee on World Food Security in Rome, Italy. For his efforts at State, in 2015 he was recognized with a Meritorious Honor Award by Nancy Stetson.

American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists

In 2013, Oerther joined the Board of Trustees of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists as Treasurer. He was elected Vice President in 2019, and will lead the Academy as President-elect, President, and Past-president through 2023. His recognition from the Academy includes the 2009 University Research Honor Award for, "Improved water quality in northwest Tanzania," the 2014 Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science Education Award, the 2016 Superior Achievement Award for, "Improved water quality in Ixcan, Guatemala," the 2018 Stanley E. Kappe Award, and the 2020 Environmental Sustainability Honor Award for, "COAST: Caribbean Ocean and Aquaculture Sustainability faciliTy." Throughout 2020 and 2021, Oerther will serve as the Academy's Kappe Distinguished Lecturer delivering two different lectures to universities around the world. The first lecture will present his work with nurses using community based participatory research to eliminate childhood stunting in Guatemala, and the second lecture will present his work with the World Bank using science diplomacy to promote climate resilience and food security in the Caribbean.

Additional appointments

Oerther is lifetime honorary member of The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International ; and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the Royal Society of Arts, the Royal Society for Public Health, the Society of Environmental Engineers in the United Kingdom, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Academy of Nursing Education of the National League for Nursing, the Society of Operations Engineers in the United Kingdom, and the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
Oerther is an Associate Editor of the, Journal of Environmental Engineering, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a member of the International Advisory Board of Perspectives in Public Health, published by the Royal Society for Public Health. He was previously an Associate Editor of Water Environment Research, published by the Water Environment Federation.
Oerther is a member of Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Sigma Theta Tau International Building Corporation, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. He was previously an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
Oerther is a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research, Gujarat, India; an Adjunct Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Manipal University in Karnataka, India; a Faculty Consultant at Future University in Egypt; and a visiting scholar at King's College London. He was previously an Adjunct Professor at UFOPA.

Social Entrepreneurship

Oerther is a proponent of Boyer's model of scholarship in higher education, including: discovery, integration, engagement, and teaching. In an effort to translate the discoveries of the university to benefit society-at-large, he has practiced award-winning social entrepreneurship in a variety of areas.

Decent work

Oerther co-founded PulaCloud, LLC to bring entry-level jobs in human computation supporting the knowledge-economy to Kenya, and to rural Missouri.

Food security and nutrition

Oerther co-led studies to address food deserts in urban Cincinnati, and rural Missouri. And he has worked to eliminate childhood stunting in Brazil and Guatemala.

Housing

Oerther and his family demonstrated small-home living in Missouri.

Health and well-being

Oerther helped to design, finance, construct, and equip community health clinics in Tanzania and Ghana.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene

Oerther helped bring clean drinking water and community latrines to villages in Kenya, Tanzania, and India.

Scholarly Activities

Environmental Biotechnology

Oerther is part of a diverse team of faculty pioneering the field of environmental biotechnology – where 16S ribosomal RNA-targeted techniques and microbial genomics are used to advance the fundamental understanding of ecology in engineered and natural systems used by environmental engineers and scientists to treat water, soils, and gases. His contributions have included:
Oerther leads teams of engineers, nurses, and other health care professionals to work alongside developing communities around the world as part of community-based participatory research. His contributions have included:
Oerther integrates course content and pedagogical approaches from diverse fields to improve student learning in environmental engineering and science. His contributions have included:
Oerther's awards include: