After obtaining his BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and working for the Kansas City Air Quality Division, Des Lawler enrolled in graduate school at the University of North Carolina where he received his MSEE degree in 1975 and his PhD degree in 1980.  His MSEE research was entitled "Digester Supernatant:  Significance and Treatability," and his PhD dissertation was entitled "A Particle Approach to the Thickening Process." While he was at UNC, Des also conducted innovative research on “Integral Water Treatment Plant Design: From Particle Size to Plant Performance." During his graduate studies at UNC, Des performed creative experimental research in tracking subsidence velocities in thickening, capillary suction time analyses, and particle counting methodology and characterization, and developing mathematical models describing transformations in particle size distribution across different treatment processes. This presentation will summarize some of this early research which paved the way for Des’ distinguished career in physical chemical processes in waste and wastewater treatment.  <br/>

Des Lawler: The early years

255th National Meeting (2018)

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