Scientist receives presidential award

Staff Report

President Clinton has named Garrick E. Louis, a U.Va. assistant professor of systems engineering, as a recipient of the fifth annual Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on young researchers at the outset of their careers. Louis received his award with 58 other recipients during an Oct. 24 ceremony at the White House.

Louis studies the uses of environmental policy to promote sustainable regional economic development. His specialty is capacity assurance for municipal sanitation infrastructure, including solid waste, waste water/sewage treatment, water supply, and the role these play in development.

He received his award for developing a research and educational program in integrated municipal sanitation systems, which could impact the delivery of basic municipal services, domestically and internationally.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Louis holds a Ph.D. in engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University, a master's degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Howard University. He came to the University of Virginia in 1997.

The Presidential Early Career Awards were established by President Clinton in 1996 to recognize some of the nation's finest junior scientists and engineers and to maintain U.S. leadership across the frontiers of scientific research. The young scientists and engineers receive up to a five-year research grant to further their study in support of critical government missions.