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Washington State University
The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering

Aerosol, air pollution pioneer David Ensor receives WSU Alumni Achievement Award

Jim Petersen, David Ensor, and Roger McClellan

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – David S. Ensor, retired civil and chemical engineer, was honored April 11 with the Washington State University Alumni Association’s Alumni Achievement Award for internationally recognized contributions to aerosol science that have helped protect workers and the public from potential air pollution hazards.

His career accomplishments have included: methods to characterize emissions from coal-fired power plants; technology to control ultra-fine airborne contaminants of semi-conductor chips; participation in government-private sector-academic efforts to detect and limit environmental threats; and innovative approaches to characterizing nanomaterials.

David Ensor speaking
David Ensor speaking at awards ceremony

Ensor retired in 2014 as a distinguished fellow, emeritus, of RTI International (formerly Research Triangle Institute), a nonprofit organization that provides research and technical services. He managed programs in nanotechnology, aerosol research, filtration, air pollution control technology, particle sampling and characterization, indoor air quality, pollution prevention, exposure research, surface cleaning, protective garments, microcontamination control, instrumentation development and test methods development.

After earning a bachelor of science degree at WSU in chemical engineering in 1963, he earned a master’s in chemical engineering and Ph.D. in civil engineering at the University of Washington and determined to pursue a career in environmental engineering.

Ensor has been a member of the WSU Alumni Association since 1990. In 2010, he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of WSU’s Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. He and his wife have been presidents associates of the WSU Foundation since 2003 and in 2014 were recognized by the foundation as benefactors of WSU.

David Ensor with WSU Voiland School faculty member Nehal Abu-Lail, left, and student
David Ensor with WSU Voiland School faculty member Nehal Abu-Lail, left, and student

Ensor earned a 2014 Board of Directors Award from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology for contributions to developing international standards and the 2009 James Mildon Award from the institute for nanotechnology standardization. He was recipient of eight awards, 1995-2012, from RTI for exemplary service. He received the Hammer Award from the White House during the Clinton administration and the Meritorious Service Award from the American National Standards Institute.

He has several patents, almost 200 publications and is a founding editor-in-chief of Aerosol Science and Technology journal.

The WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award was created in 1970 by the WSUAA Board of Directors to recognize alumni who have given outstanding service to WSU and made contributions to their professions and communities. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association. Of an estimated 250,000 students who have attended WSU, Ensor is the 523rd Alumni Achievement Award recipient.

View full article at WSU News

View article about award at RTI