Dr. Daniel B. Oerther, professor of environmental engineering, co-authored an article published in the Journal of Environmental Engineering, a publication of the American Society of Civil Engineers. The article is titled “Environmental Engineering as Care for Human Welfare and Planetary Health.”

Oerther wrote the article with Drs. Leila Gautham and Nancy Folbre, both from the department of economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Folbre was a recognized with a MacArthur “Genius Award” in 1998 for her pioneering work on “caring labor.” The article uses a thematic analysis of select literature and market data to suggest the presence of a care penalty within the discipline of environmental engineering. Environmental engineering may provide a strong case study to explore the gender wage gap in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professions.

Oerther has been researching the definition of caring in environmental engineering as part of his ongoing presidency of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, the lead organization for ABET accreditation of environmental engineering, environmental engineering technology, and environmental science programs.