Aerosol, air pollution pioneer David S. Ensor receives Washington State University alumni award

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC— David S. Ensor, retired civil and chemical engineer and emeritus of RTI International, received 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.

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

The WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award recognizes alumni who have given outstanding service to Washington State University 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 Washington State University, Ensor is the 523^rd Alumni Achievement Award recipient.

"Dave Ensor is one of WSU's truly distinguished alums who has had impact worldwide through his work in the field of aerosol science, a field that is key to many modern industrial processes, the delivery of inhalable pharmaceuticals, and the development of standards that enable the safe use of many modern materials," said Roger McClellan, a fellow Washington State University alum and a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Association for Aerosol Research. “Dave gave generously of his time in helping create and nurture the development of the American Association for Aerosol Research. He is one of only 28 individuals recognized as an AAAR Fellow." 

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 received eight awards from RTI for exemplary service between 1995 and 2012. Ensor also received the Hammer Award from the White House during the Clinton administration and the Meritorious Service Award from the American National Standards Institute.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree at Washington State University in chemical engineering in 1963, Ensor earned a master’s in chemical engineering and Ph.D. in civil engineering at the University of Washington.