Ven Te Chow
Encyclopedia
Ven Te Chow, Hangchow (Hangzhou), China, August 14, 1919 - July 30, 1981, was an engineer and educator. He was widely recognized as a hydrologist
and engineer
throughout the world and acclaimed for his contributions to the science of hydrology and water resources
development.
He was a professor
of Civil and Hydrosystems Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
. He received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from the National Chiao Tung University (國立交通大學) in 1940, his M.S. degree in engineering mechanics from Pennsylvania State University in 1948, and his Ph.D. degree in hydraulic engineering from the University of Illinois in 1950.
Ven Te Chow joined the faculty of the University of Illinois in the Department of Civil Engineering in 1948 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1962. Some of his unusual contributions include his watershed
experimentation system, which produced storms in the laboratory using sophisticated electronic, pneumatic, and sonar controls. At the time it was one of the most sophisticated laboratories in the world for physical hydrology and attracted worldwide attention and interest among scientists, engineers, and the public. It was the subject of an article that appeared in Life magazine on June 6, 1969, and was also addressed in the 1969 March issue of Public Works
magazine.
With this unique instrumentation, he introduced a new field of technology known as watershed hydraulics. He also developed a formula for hydrologic frequency drainage design, a method of backwater curve computation.
Professor Ven Te Chow is the founder and first president of International Water Resources Association (IWRA)http://www.iwra.org/. Over the last 37 years, IWRA has actively promoted the sustainable management of water resources around the globe and become one of the most influential organizations in the field of water. The IWRA Ven Te Chow Memorial Award was created by the IWRA in his memory. The award includes a lecture, to be delivered at its triennial World Water Congresses http://www.iwra.org/index.php?mainpage=236&page=243&subpage=. In 2008, Professor John Pigram received the Award at the XIII World Water Congress. In 2011, the Award was given to Dr. Peter Gleick.
Sources:
National Academic Press. International Water Resources Association website: http://196.36.166.88/iwra/
IWRA Ven Te Chow Memorial Award http://www.iwra.org/index.php?mainpage=236&page=243&subpage=
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
and engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
throughout the world and acclaimed for his contributions to the science of hydrology and water resources
Water resources
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water....
development.
He was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Civil and Hydrosystems Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. He received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from the National Chiao Tung University (國立交通大學) in 1940, his M.S. degree in engineering mechanics from Pennsylvania State University in 1948, and his Ph.D. degree in hydraulic engineering from the University of Illinois in 1950.
Ven Te Chow joined the faculty of the University of Illinois in the Department of Civil Engineering in 1948 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1962. Some of his unusual contributions include his watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
experimentation system, which produced storms in the laboratory using sophisticated electronic, pneumatic, and sonar controls. At the time it was one of the most sophisticated laboratories in the world for physical hydrology and attracted worldwide attention and interest among scientists, engineers, and the public. It was the subject of an article that appeared in Life magazine on June 6, 1969, and was also addressed in the 1969 March issue of Public Works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
magazine.
With this unique instrumentation, he introduced a new field of technology known as watershed hydraulics. He also developed a formula for hydrologic frequency drainage design, a method of backwater curve computation.
Professor Ven Te Chow is the founder and first president of International Water Resources Association (IWRA)http://www.iwra.org/. Over the last 37 years, IWRA has actively promoted the sustainable management of water resources around the globe and become one of the most influential organizations in the field of water. The IWRA Ven Te Chow Memorial Award was created by the IWRA in his memory. The award includes a lecture, to be delivered at its triennial World Water Congresses http://www.iwra.org/index.php?mainpage=236&page=243&subpage=. In 2008, Professor John Pigram received the Award at the XIII World Water Congress. In 2011, the Award was given to Dr. Peter Gleick.
Sources:
National Academic Press. International Water Resources Association website: http://196.36.166.88/iwra/
IWRA Ven Te Chow Memorial Award http://www.iwra.org/index.php?mainpage=236&page=243&subpage=