Marc A. Edwards, a 2007 MacArthur Award recipient and Via Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, will present The MacArthur Award Lecture, Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in 2150 Torgersen Hall.
The title of his talk is "Ut Prosim (That I May Serve): It's a Wonderful Life and Career Mantra."
Edwards' conducted an exhaustive four-year investigation into the genesis and aftermath of the Washington, D.C. "Lead Crisis." In January 2004, Washington D.C. residents learned that hazardous levels of lead had been present in their drinking water supply for several years.
The revelation prompted public outrage and a media frenzy, but subsequent "scientific" studies failed to find any harm. Edwards' will speak about his investigation into how the authorities twisted science to obfuscate the truth.
As a result of his work, he was named a MacArthur Fellow for 2007 by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Edwards has received a five-year grant of $500,000 from the foundation to use in any way he chooses.
He was one of 24 new MacArthur Fellows selected in 2007 from among hundreds of nominees for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future.
The lecture is free and open to the public.