The Richard H. Jahns
Distinguished
Lecturer in Engineering Geology Award
Recipient
The Richard H. Jahns Distinguished
Lecturer in Engineering Geology Award was established in 1988 by the
Association of Engineering Geologists in co-sponsorship with the Engineering
Geology Division of the Geological Society of America. The purpose is to
provide funding annually for a distinguished engineering geologist to present a
lecture at a number of academic institutions to increase awareness of students
about careers in engineering geology. The Distinguished Lectureship is in honor
of Richard H. Jahns (1915-1983), an engineering geologist who had a diverse and
distinguished career in academia, consulting, and government. Perry H. Rahn was
designated as the 2002 recipient of this award.
Perry H. Rahn was born in 1936 in
Allentown, Pennsylvania. In 1959 he received a BS in civil engineering and a BA
in geology from Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. From 1959 to 1961 he was employed as an
engineering geologist by the California Department of Water Resources in
Oroville, California. In 1965 he
received a PhD in geology from The Pennsylvania State University. From 1965 to 1968 he was an assistant
professor at the University of Connecticut. In 1968 he began teaching at the
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota,
becoming a full professor in 1979. In
1997 he retired and became a professor emeritus. Dr. Rahn is a Professional Engineer and is a member of the
various professional organizations including the Geological Society of America,
the Association of Engineering Geologists, The American Institute of
Professional Geologists, and the National Society of Professional
Engineers. His research and
publications deal with engineering geology, hydrogeology, and
geomorphology. He is the author of “Engineering Geology, an Environmental
Approach”. For this book he received
the Claire P. Holdredge award by the Association of Engineering Geologists in
1987, and the E.B. Burwell award by the Engineering Geology Division of the
Geological Association of America in 1990.
Dr. Rahn will be available for two talks
during 2002. They have a common theme of showing the importance of geology to
engineering works. His first talk is
titled “Flood Hazards”. This talk covers current techniques of flood evaluation
and the Federal Emergency Management Administration programs now in effect. Examples of flooding in the United States
are given, and the usefulness of geomorphology and detailed field mapping to
flood hazard evaluation are described. Dams have been the traditional method of
reducing floods, and many engineering geologists are employed in the
construction of dams. Flood plain
management is a more environmentally acceptable method of reducing flood
hazards.
The second talk is titled
“Transmissivity Anisotropy”. This talk emphasizes that geologic mapping and an
understanding of geology are required to effectively study ground water. Sound
geologic input is the limiting factor in most ground water models.
Directional
permeability is shown to have effects on ground-water pumping and contaminant
transport. Surficial and bedrock
aquifers in South Dakota and Connecticut are used as examples.
To arrange for a talk at your
university or professional group, contact Perry H. Rahn directly. Dr. Rahn can be reached through the
Department of Geology & Geological Engineering, South Dakota School of
Mines & Technology, Rapid City, SD, 57701,
(605) 394-2461, FAX (605) 394-6703, perry.rahn@sdsmt.edu.