Born in Bangladesh (1952), Abul Hussam is now an Associate Professor in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at George Mason University, Virginia, USA (since 1985). Dr. Hussam finished his early education from Kushtia, Bangladesh (1970). He graduated in Chemistry (B.Sc. Honours 1975 and M.Sc. 1976) from University of Dhaka and earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry fro University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1982). He then obtained his postdoctoral training at the Chemistry Department of University of Minnesota. He was visiting research fellow at Georgetown University and Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Hussam teaches quantitative chemical analysis, instrumental analysis, electroanalytical chemistry and the theory of analytical processes at undergraduate and graduate levels. His research areas involve electroanalytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, and chemistry in organized media. His early scientific work was centered on electrochemistry in non-aqueous media, spectroscopic (NMR and FTIR) characterization of hydrogen bonded water, and diffusion behavior of micelles and microemulsions. Dr. Hussam later developed computer controlled instruments such as electrochemical analyzer, automated titration system, and a high precision headspace gas chromatograph for the study of fluid phase chemistry in complex media including the study of the environment. This later research allowed him to develop measurement and mitigation techniques for toxic arsenic species in groundwater. He has published and presented over 90 scientific papers in international journals, proceedings, and books. His present research on the measurement of trace arsenic, aquatic chemistry of arsenic in groundwater, and the development of a simple arsenic filter has been recognized through international publications. The arsenic filter resulted from his research is now used by thousands of people in the affected areas of Bangladesh. In collaboration with his brothers, Dr. Abul K. M. Munir and Prof. Abul Barkat, he has established an environmental initiative research in Bangladesh and actively engaged in educating public on the nature of present and future environmental problems. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Environmental Science and Health and an active peer reviewer of numerous international journals. Dr. Hussam was awarded one of the highest engineering prizes known as the 2007 Grainger Challenge Prize for Sustainability from the US National Academy of Engineering for the development and deployment of a novel water filter to remove toxic arsenic species from groundwater.
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