The Ralph and Joe Bales Graber Science Award

The Ralph and Joe Bales Graber Science Award (previously known as the AAEES Science Award) honors two individuals who contributed to the formation of what is now known as the environmental engineering and science profession.

Ralph Graber (1917-2012) held a BS in Sanitary Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a MS in Sanitary Engineering from Harvard University. His employers included the United States Public Health Service, local health departments in the United States, the Institute of Inter-American Affairs in Mexico, and the University of Texas System. Ralph was employed as an Executive Director of the Academy from 1982 to 1984.

Joe Bales Graber (1921-2020) held a baccalaureate degree from Louisiana State University and a Master’s in Public Health from Yale University. Her employers included the United States Public Health Service, and her efforts contributed to the establishment of the National Institute on Ageing within the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

The Ralph and Joe Bales Graber Science Award is given to an individual who is an outstanding performer in the management and implementation of environmental science programs and projects conducted under either public or private auspices and has demonstrated exemplary professional conduct, has distinguished qualities of personal leadership, originality in devising new management techniques for dealing with environmental issues, and sensitivity and responsiveness to the impact of social and political influences on the conduct of environmental programs.

Click here for the full criteria and nomination forms.

2026 Ralph and Joe Bales Graber Science Award Recipient

Dr. Zhen (Jason) He is Laura & William Jens Professor and Associate Chair of Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). Prior to this, he was a Professor and Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, as well as an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He received his BS from Tongji University, MS from the Technical University of Denmark, and PhD from WashU.

Dr. He's research focuses on technological solutions for resource recovery from wastewater. His team has employed biological, electrochemical, and membrane technologies to extract nutrients, bioenergy, and value-added compounds from waste. He has published more than 290 journal papers, which have received over 28,000 citations, and he has an H-index of 89 according to Google Scholar.

Dr. He has been recognized with various awards, including the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from ASCE, Green Talent Award from the BMBF in Germany, designation as a 2018 Highly Cited Researcher, the Dean’s Award for Research Excellence at Virginia Tech, and 2025 Frederick George Pohland Medal from AEESP/AAEES.

Dr. He is an elected Fellow of both International Water Association (IWA) and Water Environment Federation (WEF). He is a Board-Certified Environmental Engineering Member (BCEEM). Dr. He is a member of the WEF Fellow Focus Group, the AEESP Foundation Board, and the Managing Committees of IWA Sludge Management Specialist Group and Membrane Technology Specialist Group. He is the faculty advisor of both WEF student chapter and TXA chapter at WashU.

Past Recipients

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