Theme: Environmental Engineering
Lew Semprini Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
February 22, 2017
Lew Semprini (b. 1952) is a Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering who
has been a member of the Oregon State faculty since 1993. An expert on in situ bioremediation of contaminated environments, Semprini has uncovered a wide array
of mechanisms for treating hazardous substances that have polluted industrial, military
and residential locations alike. One project in particular, which used samples of
Willamette River water collected in Corvallis, led to the discovery of microorganisms
that could metabolize chlorinated solvents. In his interview, Semprini details the
evolution of his career as a scientist and engineer, with particular attention paid
to the development of the Environmental Engineering program at OSU.