This lectureship was founded in 2007 by Professor Emeritus Edward Wenk. The endowment supports an annual public lecture by distinguished practitioners in the fields of civil and environmental engineering and public policy.
Lectures focus on the social, economic, political and environmental impacts of work being conducted in these fields. Through the annual lecture, Wenk’s hope was to bridge the gap between public policy and engineering and inspire students to make a difference through leadership roles.
About the donor
The Edward Wenk, Jr. Endowed Lectureship in Technology and Public Policy was made possible by a generous donation from Professor Emeritus Edward Wenk, Jr., who served as a science policy adviser to the U.S. Congress and three presidents. Wenk received a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Johns Hopkins University, a master’s from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. Following his studies, Wenk spent 15 years working for the U.S. Navy, culminating in strength design and testing of NAUTILUS, the first nuclear propelled submarine. Wenk's contributions of theoretical and experimental analysis to the art of submarine design and involvement in deep submergence trials prompted his election to the National Academy of Engineering. Through his generous gift, he continues to share his professional legacy with students and the academic community.