In the years leading up to the foundation of Montana Technological University’s Environmental Engineering
program in 1972, there was a growing national, state, and community demand for environmental accountability in
both government and industry.

A decade earlier, Rachel Carson had published her widely acclaimed indictment on pesticide use in Silent Spring. In January and February 1969, a massive oil spill on the coast of Santa Barbara, California coated beaches in millions of gallons of gunk that killed thousands of wildlife. In June of that same year, the Cuyahoga River burst into flames in Cleveland, Ohio, when a train derailment sent oil-soaked debris into the water. Federal legislation was enacted to require clean air and water.

In Anaconda, the massive Washoe Smelter was operating, releasing toxic contaminants that would later be deemed a Superfund area. In Butte, some of the first studies about the impact of mining on local soils, air, surface water, and groundwater were completed. In Helena, the Montana Constitution was enacted and included a clause that enshrines into law that “the state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.”

Over the past five decades, Montana Tech has answered the call to produce exceptional thinkers and doers ready to tackle the environmental challenges and questions of multiple generations.

The Environmental Engineering program was founded under Associate Professor Floyd Bossard and with the strong individual advocacy of both Dr. Elmer Gless, head of the Biology Department, and Kohler Stout, the Dean of Engineering. Per Mr. Bossard, the strongest overall support for the new Environmental Engineering degree came from the “sciences and humanities divisions at this school.” The Environmental Engineering program started out with a primary focus in the biological sciences, with Mr. Bossard serving as Department Head from 1972 until 1979, at which time Dr. Tom Waring assumed that title.

Dr. Waring, along with other faculty members, earned the first ABET accreditation for the Environmental Engineering degree in 1982. At that time, only five or six environmental programs in the U.S. were accredited by ABET. When Dr. Waring took the campus administrator position, Dr. Rod James became the Department Head.

Dr. James, who has a chemical engineering background, pushed the program to become more engineering focused. Today, there are more than 100 accredited programs for students to choose from in the U.S., but current Department Head Dr. Kumar Ganesan says Montana Tech’s commitment to offering a future-oriented curriculum and excellent research opportunities continues to attract high-quality students from around the world.Dr. Ganesan has also served as an ABET program evaluator for environmental engineering for over a decade.

“When we build our courses, we are looking 5 to 10 years into the future,” Ganesan said. “One benefit of a small campus is that we don’t have to wait long for approvals. I remember in 1999, I finished a workshop with the National Science Foundation, and the next year we were able to use that knowledge to introduce a new course called Pollution Prevention.”

No other Environmental Engineering program had such a course at that time. Students also worked on research projects with professors who received millions of dollars in funding over the years from leading
federal, state, and community partners.

Because students receive education with an engineering focus, incorporating problem-solving for relevant issues, they are well prepared for the workforce.

“It’s because they can solve complex environmental problems. Our graduates have a reputation for creative solutions, collaborative thinking, and teamwork. Companies realize we have
a great program.”

Karen Helfrich (B.S. ’09, M.S. ’11) works for Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. in Butte. Her work has taken her across the country, and she’s never surprised to meet graduates doing outstanding work.

“On the national level, we have graduates all over the place, doing all kinds of different things,” Helfrich said. “We hire a lot of Tech grads and they all do exceptionally well. When they come out, they can think through and solve problems. Tech grads are the best—if they don’t know the answer, then they can think through
it and try to find the solution.”

Helfrich says as the department moves into its next half-century, there are plenty of issues for future students to tackle.

“From a technical standpoint, it’s going to be finding more natural resources, and how to develop sustainable solutions to complex environmental problems,” Helfrich said. “I think a better approach
to taking care of our planet will be a bigger issue." 

Helfrich said students who are well prepared technically will grow into other skills required to succeed in the field.

“Politics are becoming more and more a piece of the puzzle. At times it’s more about the politics than the science,” Helfrich said. “It’s hard sometimes to navigate that and deal with those pressures. That’s not something they can teach in school. It’s a challenge you have to adapt to with your problem-solving skills.”

Graduates also learn people skills, which is important.

“The faculty were one of the main reasons I chose to go to Tech,” Helfrich said. “The minute I visited and throughout my education I felt cared for. You weren’t just another number. I believe that how you treat people is one of the biggest parts of what you learn.”

Glenn Eurick (B.S. ’77) said the establishment of the department’s Industrial Advisory Board in the 1990s helped play a role in connecting students with mentors in the field and keeping curriculum relevant to demands in the field. He also notes the importance of Departmental and Alumni involvement and support for the student club “Environmental Engineers of Montana Tech” (EEMT) and the Environmental Engineering Design Teams over the years.

“These people are the premier ambassadors for prospective students in the field, and they are ambassadors for Montana Tech as a whole,” Eurick said. “They always need the support of the program, the environmental alumni, and the campus. I would encourage new alumni to stay involved.”

Eurick is semi-retired now after more than four decades of environmental engineering practice. He’s confident that Montana Tech’s environmental graduates will rise to meet the demand.

“I think the greatest impact of the department is the steady stream of very qualified environmental engineers to a variety of industry and government agencies,” Eurick said. “The biggest challenge of the future is to have environmental engineers who understand the current scenario and can assist in solving current and future issues like climate change, weather impacts, disaster recovery, resource recovery, the protection of air quality, and water quality and quantity.”