Stephen Slavens Faculty Scholar in Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering
In 2023 Stephen Slavens, ’69, and Barbara Slavens planned an estate gift creating the Stephen Slavens Faculty Scholar in Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering. The fund will support faculty whose teaching and research are in areas that advance sustainability, such as sustainable energy and environmental protection. The Slavens also began making gifts for immediate use, so the first Slavens Faculty Scholar could be selected.
Steve studied chemical engineering at Oregon State and spent most of his career at 3M, ultimately working with medical imaging systems. A highlight of his career was convincing 3M to develop the DryView® medical imaging film to replace another technology that emitted hazardous waste. DryView® became the first significant product to receive the U.S. Presidential Green Chemistry Award. Steve's work was influenced by a passion for sustainability, first sparked when he read "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson, a book that revealed the harmful effects of the chemical DDT on animals and ultimately helped lead to the revival of the American bald eagle. He was also influenced by environmental advocates like Oregon Governor Thomas McCall, who led the cleanup of Willamette Valley rivers and helped preserve Oregon beaches, and 3M Vice President of Environmental Affairs Joe Ling, who envisioned the waste 3M factories produced being transformed into raw materials for those same factories to use. Steve's interest in protecting the future of our planet guided him as 3M navigated issues related to pollution-reduction, and eventually became a leader in environmental responsibility. “As a lifelong proponent of both engineering and environmentalism, I seek to enable and encourage anyone who shares my concern for the natural world to pursue the ideas and innovations that will help secure the future of our planet,” he said.
Current Faculty Holder |
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| Chih-hung Chang |