Berrin Tansel

Biography

Berrin Tansel is an environmental engineer, researcher, author, educator, and professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Florida International University (FIU). Before joining FIU, Tansel was a project manager at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and worked on the Boston Harbor cleanup project. She was a project manager at PEER Consultants, and a consultant for the Soap and Detergent Association, SCS Engineers, City of Pompano Beach, and ERM-South. She worked at the Center for Environmental Management at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, on the preparation of six reports to the US Congress on solid waste management that were used in the development of environmental regulations.

Tansel teaches graduate and undergraduate courses covering fundamental theory, laboratory experimentation, and design aspects of environmental engineering with particular emphasis on sustainability, wastewater and water treatment processes, infrastructure system reliability, and contaminant transport in soil and water environments. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed literature on cutting-edge research and education strategies and served as a technical expert on numerous professional committees. She has authored over 200 scientific research papers, contributed to manuals of practice, and published six books. Her research at Kennedy Space Center on developing a closed-loop water recovery and recycling technology for space travel was recognized as one of the Research Projects that Benefit the NASA-KSC and Nation through the Vision of Space and used for developing water conservation and recycling programs on Earth.

Tansel is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers and a Board-Certified Environmental Engineer by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES). She is an elected fellow of The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and Environmental and Water Resources Engineers (EWRI). She is the recipient of 2024 Fair Distinguished Engineer Educator Medal (WEF), 2024 Ralph Fuhrman Medal for Outstanding Water Quality Academic-Practice Collaboration, 2023 Pohland Medal from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP), 2021 Science Award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES), 2021 Margaret S. Petersen Outstanding Woman of the Year Award and 2009 Edmund Freidman Professional Achievement Award from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Engineer of the Year Award from ASCE Miami-Dade Chapter, Public Education Award from Florida Water Environment Foundation (FWEA). She is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Challenges Journal (Elsevier) and served as the Co-editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environmental Management (Elsevier) for over six years.

Tansel is a commissioner and executive committee member of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, and a Program Evaluator (PEV) for environmental engineering and civil engineering programs for the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. She served on the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC), the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Change Subcommittee, the Environmental Engineering Council of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES), and the Boards of Trustees of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) and Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AAEESP). She is a registered professional engineer in Florida, USA. Tansel holds Ph.D. and MS degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BS degree in chemical engineering from Middle East Technical University.

Awards & Honors

National / International Awards

• Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2025
• Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal, Water Environment Federation (WEF), 2024 
• Ralph Fuhrman Medal for Outstanding Water Quality Academic-Practice Collaboration, Water Environment Federation (WEF), 2024 
• Frederick George Pohland Medal, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP), 2023 
• Science Award, American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists (AAEES), 2021 
• Margaret S. Petersen Outstanding Woman of The Year Award, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2021), 2021 
• Public Education Award, Florida Water Environment Foundation (FWEA), 2018 
• Elected to the National Academy of Science (Turkish NAS, Member of European Science Academy), 2021
• Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2009 
• Engineer of the Year, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Miami-Dade Branch, 2007 
• National Academy of Science (Turkish, Member of European Science Academy), 2021
• ASCE, EWRI Outstanding Achievement Award, Water, Wastewater, Stormwater Council, 2014 
• Elected Fellow, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2025
• Elected Fellow, Water Environment Federation (F. WEF), 2019
• Elected Fellow, Environment and Water Resources Institute (F. EWRI), 2013
• Elected Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers (F. ASCE), 2007
• Elected Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer (D. WRE), American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE), 2007
• Keck Futures Fellow, The National Academies, 2011
• Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2009 
• U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute Commendation, U.S. Army-Manpower and Reserve Affairs, 2009
• Outstanding Reviewer for the Journal of Environmental Engineering (American Society of Civil Engineers), 2009 
• Kika E. De La Garza Fellow, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Washington, DC, 2008
• Engineer of the Year, American Society of Civil Engineers Miami-Dade Branch, 2007 
• Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE), American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES), 2007
• Research Project Recognition by NASA for Technology Development and Application Research as One of Highlighted Projects that Benefit the NASA-KSC and Nation through the Vision of Space, NASA, Kennedy Space Center, 2005 KSC-NASA Annual Report (Release Date: September 2006)
• Fulbright Scholar, 1978-1980

University Awards and Recognitions

• Spot Award, for Exceptional Service as a Hearing Panelist, Florida International University, Human Resources, 2025
• Faculty Senate Award for Excellence in Engagement, Florida International University. 2025
• Distinguished University Professor, Florida International University, Provost Office, 2024
• Environmental Finance Fellow, College of Business, Environmental Finance & Risk Management Program, Florida International University, 2024
• Rewarding Excellence in Teaching Incentives (RETI) Award, FIU Office of Faculty Leadership & Success, 2023
• Dean’s Award for Service, FIU College of Engineering and Computing, 2019
• Faculty Senate Award for Excellence in Mentoring/Advising, Florida International University, 2018
• Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018 
• Dean’s Award for Mentorship, FIU College of Engineering and Computing, 2013
• Dean’s Award for Service, FIU College of Engineering and Computing, 2007
• Faculty Senate Award for Excellence in Teaching, Florida International University, 2006
• Kauffman Professor of Entrepreneurship, Florida International University, 2006
• ASCE Faculty Advisor Award, FIU Student Chapter, 2006
• Dissertation Advisor, Florida International University, 2005
• Graduate Faculty, Florida International University, 2003
• State University System of Florida, Teaching Incentive Award (TIP), 1997
• Faculty Senate Award for Excellence in Service, Florida International University, 1994
• State University System of Florida, Teaching Incentive Award (TIP), 1994
• Educational Leadership Enhancement Award, Florida International University, 1994
• Faculty Senate Award for Excellence in Research, Florida International University, 1993
• Who’s Who Citations
• Who's Who Worldwide Registry
• Who's Who in Engineering Education
• Who's Who Among America's Teachers
• Marquis Who's Who in American Education
• Marquis Who's Who in America
• Who’s Who in the 21st Century
• Marquis Who's Who in the World
• Marquis Who's Who in America in Science and Engineering
• Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering
• Marquis Who’s Who in America
• Marquis Who's Who of American Women
• Strathmore’s Who's Who
• American Men and Women of Science
• International Who's Who of Professionals
• Sterling Who's Who
• Montclair Who's Who

Education

• Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, with Minor in Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1980-1985
• MS, Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison,  1978-1979
• BS, Chemical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 1972-1978