Fulbright Scholar Oerther Examines India’s Infrastructure, Especially Its Water Systems

Photos By: Dottie Stover

  

Environmental engineering is a hot field and probably will be for the next 10 years, especially in emerging countries.

“There are two tiers of emerging countries,” says Dan Oerther, an associate professor in the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Oerther is also the director of UC’s Water Quality Biotechnology Program within the College of Engineering. “One tier is what people typically refer to as ‘Third World’ countries. The other tier is countries such as China and India, which most people recognize as being future economic powerhouses.” (Business Week magazine recently focused on these two future powerhouses.)

Oerther had many incentives for choosing India when he applied for the Fulbright. His wife’s family is originally from India, for one. Fulbright scholars who are bringing their families with them receive an additional stipend. Monica and Dan Oerther will both go to India, taking their two young children (ages 4 and 1½). Monica Oerther will be observing and advising in her role as a pediatrician, but is not licensed to practice in India.

Another incentive for India is that English is the primary technical language, so Oerther would have fewer language barriers to overcome. The major motivation, of course, was need — and not his own.

“India has tremendous infrastructure issues,” says Oerther. India faces two disparate challenges: first, although part of the country is very similar to the United States in its infrastructure, rapid growth has overwhelmed its roads, water systems and electrical grid. The second challenge is that other parts of India lack basic infrastructure at all.

“The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is in Bangalore. It’s a city with a tremendous number of U.S. companies,” says Oerther. “It is seen as the next place to do business.” Oerther’s primary assignment is at the IISc, where he will be teaching environmental biotechnology, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. The IISc is a major state-sponsored research university. Oerther has also been named the Pai Scholar at the Manipal Medical College, a smaller, private school. Business Week recently referred to Manipal as “The Other MIT.”

Dan Oerther co-teaches a capstone class for seniors in environmental studies and civil engineering.

“I will take tools from genomic medicine, such as DNA sequencers and micro-arrays, and will adapt them to study micro-organisms in the environment,” Oerther says. “We will use these tools to see how well the water is being sanitized and to inform engineering decisions.”

So how does a water guru from the Midwest find his way to Southeast Asia? Oerther was inspired by President Zimpher’s inaugural address where she talked about her “very important stretch goal” of increasing the numbers of Fulbright scholars. Oerther talked to Anant Kukreti, his department chair, and Roy Eckart, the interim dean of the College of Engineering, and put in his application.

“When you apply for a Fulbright, 12 to 18 months before you go, they have a list of opportunities,” Oerther explains. “I chose engineering in India, which basically meant I would be working at the IISc.”

A while after he applied, Oerther checked on the status of his application by email. He received an encouraging email in reply. “They said, ‘Oh, plan on coming — you are our #1 candidate.’”

Dan Oerther is honored to be chosen both for the Fulbright Lecturer and the Pai Scholar positions. “It is a big honor of great significance,” he says. "I think of it as international service learning."

Besides the stipend to bring his family, Oerther will receive a stipend for his own living expenses, a modest travel allowance and travel expenses to India and back.

Oerther encourages his students to travel and research.

“I am very fortunate in that UC will continue to pay my salary while I am in India,” says Oerther. “Thanks to Anant Kukreti, Dean Eckart and Provost Tony Perzigian.” Besides conducting research and teaching, Oerther will be promoting the University of Cincinnati and will be providing a pipeline for recruiting additional international graduate students.

Kukreti quoted the goals of the Fulbright program in supporting Oerther: “[The] Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries; choosing participants with academic merit and leadership potential and giving them the opportunity to study and teach in each other’s countries, exchanging ideas and developing joint solutions to address shared concerns.”

“UC has been very generous to me in that regard,” says Oerther. An additional benefit that Oerther and UC derive from his work in India is in continuing our global relationships. Oerther encourages his students to work in other countries and recently welcomed back two of his students from working on NSF fellowships in Kenya.

Oerther is honored in his Fulbright Scholar role as informal ambassador for the Department of State.

“It is important to be technically competent, of course, but applicants also have to be personally confident with informal discussions while on assignment and upon returning,” says Oerther. “It is paramount that participants share their experiences.”

More about Dan Oerther: "UC Scientist Builds Cultural Bridges Over Troubled Waters"  

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