Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2004

Contact: Lisa Merkl
713.743.8192 (office)
713.605.1757 (pager)

HOUSTON, Dec. 8, 2004 – Reducing the ecological impact of manmade accidents was the topic of a recent conference in Egypt where one University of Houston administrator and professor was a keynote speaker, addressing the use of science to manage environmental risks through a partnership between public and private sectors.

Arthur C. Vailas, vice chancellor and vice president for research and intellectual property management at UH, was invited by the Modern Academy at Cairo University in Egypt to speak at the two-day conference – “Environmental Risk Management Under Modern Technological Aspects” – addressing how to handle environmental events in the Middle East and the world. Vailas’ talk, titled “The Creation of a Public-Private Partnership in Managing Environmental Risks,” provided an overview of UH’s strategy of enhancing the role science plays in providing critical information associated with Gulf Coast air modeling to various stakeholders.

“Houston has a unique challenge because of its diverse ecosystem within a high industrial petrochemical area,” Vailas said. “I am honored to have been chosen to address the attendees of this international conference and am always eager to offer support and guidance in the field of air modeling research that will ultimately result in a better understanding of our regional air quality and assist the policy makers and regulators in making difficult decisions based on sound science. The more we bring these issues to light, the better opportunities we have for improving air quality through sound environmental health public policy decisions around the world.”

In addition to his current role in administration, Vailas holds a joint appointment at UH as professor of mechanical engineering in the Cullen College of Engineering and professor of biology and biochemistry in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

No stranger to such initiatives on the domestic front, Vailas was appointed in 2002 by the U.S. House of Representatives to serve on the Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center, based in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Instrumental in developing UH as a focal point for research into environmental issues that confront not only Houston, but also the United States, Vailas’ expertise in determining how major urban centers can improve air quality now has been taken to the next level in the international arena.

Also in 2002, Texas Gov. Rick Perry appointed Vailas to a three-year term in the Texas Council on Environmental Technology. The council’s goal is to assist in developing solutions to air, water and waste problems.

Accompanying Vailas on the trip were Jerald Strickland, UH provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, and John Bear, dean of the UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

The conference covered such topics as environmental challenges confronting the oil industry, the recent focus on the impact of the cement industry, and environmental pollution issues and challenges. The conference provided an opportunity for researchers and decision makers around the world to collect information and interact with colleagues from Arab nations.

Providing a forum to exchange knowledge on recent topics about the environment, the conference addressed problems of an ecological nature, resulting in solutions for the abatement of manmade catastrophes, the development of adequate contingency plans to help reduce ecological damage, and recommendations for legislative and executive powers. With nearly 80 oral and poster presentations, the conference was attended by an array of scientists, university representatives, research center leaders and members of the energy, cement and pharmaceutical industries.

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

To receive UH science news via e-mail, visit www.uh.edu/admin/media/sciencelist.html

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.