Professor Wen Zhang, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Environmental Chemistry Engagement and Impact Award by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Environmental Chemistry (ENVR).
The award recognizes individuals or teams who demonstrate exceptional leadership, creativity, and impact in advancing engagement in environmental chemistry and engineering. It particularly recognizes efforts that connect research, education, and community partnerships to address pressing environmental challenges and broaden societal understanding of environmental chemistry.
His nomination highlighted nearly two decades of involvement with ACS ENVR, including service on the ENVR Services Committee and the organization and co-chairing of symposia at ACS National Meetings on nanobubbles, innovative materials and technologies for water purification, environmental sustainability, and the water–energy nexus.
A major focus of Zhang’s research has been the development of nanobubble-enabled technologies for water remediation, resource recovery, and sustainable agriculture. His research has investigated the fundamental interfacial chemistry of nanobubbles—including their stability, reactivity, and radical-generation mechanisms—and translated these principles into practical environmental and agricultural technologies.
One example highlighted in the award nomination is Zhang’s development of a mobile air-flotation and micro/nanobubble platform for mitigating harmful algal blooms (HABs). The technology has been demonstrated at several New Jersey lakes, including Branch Brook Park Lake, Cozy Lake, and Deal Lake, using fine bubbles and flotation to mechanically separate algal biomass while improving water oxygenation without relying on conventional chemical algicides.
The real-world impact of this work was emphasized by the Deal Lake Commission, which described the NJIT team’s 2022 demonstration at Deal Lake. According to the Commission’s testimonial, the system removed visible algal scum through air-induced flotation and surface skimming while improving water transparency and oxygenation, demonstrating the potential of a sustainable, non-chemical approach to lake restoration.
Equally important to the recognition has been Zhang’s commitment to bringing environmental chemistry beyond the laboratory. Working with Jersey Cares, NJDEP, local lake organizations, students, volunteers, and community partners, Zhang and his team have organized field demonstrations, workshops, and outreach activities that introduce students and residents to water-quality monitoring, nutrient pollution, harmful algal blooms, nanobubble science, and sustainable lake management. The nomination package reports that five regional outreach events and workshops engaged more than 500 residents and students.
Jersey Cares specifically highlighted the team’s hands-on outdoor workshops at Branch Brook Park, where high-school and college students participated in water testing, field demonstrations, and discussions of sustainable lake management. The organization also noted Zhang’s role in convening a 2022 regional HAB mitigation and water sustainability workshop that brought together more than 100 participants from academia, government agencies, and industry.
The award also recognizes the broader translation of Zhang’s research into practice. His work has involved partnerships among universities, government agencies, communities, and industry and has contributed to entrepreneurial efforts aimed at moving environmental technologies from laboratory research toward practical applications in water treatment, food safety, agriculture, and environmental restoration.
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