Abstract
ABSTRACT
The hazardous-waste-management field has grown rapidly in recent years because of ambitious environmental legislation and regulatory programs. In response to these challenges, industry, academia, and government have developed better ways to manage hazardous wastes. Numerous career opportunities have been created for personnel who are adequately trained and educated in hazardous-waste management. However, there is a need to educate engineers and scientists in this field. University curriculums should include hazardous-waste management for identification, evaluation, and implementation of processes that will reduce waste generation and improve waste disposal and waste treatment. A study of hazardous-waste-management education was conducted by surveying engineering departments at 62 major universities in the United States. The objective of this survey was to determine the emphasis placed on hazardous-waste management in environment-related curriculums. Course offerings in hazardous-waste management have increased as universities become more active in this growth field. Faculty interest in performing hazardous-waste research has increased, although the growth rate of research funding for hazardous waste has decreased. This decrease appears to be the result of reduced federal government funding for university research of hazardous waste.
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