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UH Professor Publishes Seventh Engineering History Book
By
Toby Weber

Jerry Rogers, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering with the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering, has edited his seventh book on engineering history.

The book, “Environmental and Water Resources: Milestones in Engineering History,” is published by the American Society of Civil Engineers Press. It outlines historic projects and events in those fields, including the water engineering feats of the Mayan Indians, the creation of the water supply for France’s Versailles Palace and the 1900 hurricane that led to the construction of the seawall that to this day protects Galveston Island.

Like the six previous publications in the series, most of the book’s contents are taken from papers presented at ASCE events. The book also contains invited papers that were prepared specifically for this publication and were not presented at any ASCE conference.

According to Rogers, the book is intended to serve as an educational tool for civil engineering programs across the country. There is a growing push from many quarters to include a history component to civil and environmental engineering curriculums, Rogers said. In fact, later this year the ASCE’s Body of Knowledge Committee is expected to approve a revision to its recommended curriculum that includes engineering history instruction.

In addition, the entire series of books edited by Rogers serves as a recruiting tool for the fields of civil and environmental engineering, he said.

“The use of historical examples leads to people absorbing more knowledge about how things were done and who did them,” said Rogers. “Civil and environmental engineering becomes more fascinating when you can put stories behind what has been accomplished and the men and women behind these accomplishments.”

“Environmental and Water Resources: Milestones in Engineering History,” along with the six other engineering history books edited by Rogers, can be purchased through the publications section of the ASCE website, located at www.asce.org.

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