Environmental Chemistry in Society

James M. Beard, PhD, earned a BA in chemistry at Manchester College (now Manchester University) in 1965 and a PhD in organic chemistry at Stanford University in 1969. After two years of teaching chemistry at Manchester College, he pursued a career as a clinical chemist. During the next 12 years, Dr. Beard worked as a product developer, quality control consultant, and administrator in both hospital and industry settings. Since 1988, Dr. Beard has been a member of the faculty at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he is a professor of chemistry. Dr. Beard's major interest is environmental chemical education.

Ruth Ann Murphy, PhD, earned a BS in chemistry and a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin, with additional graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After teaching appointments in chemistry at Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX, and the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, she served as an assistant professor of chemistry and chemistry coordinator at the University of Albuquerque. As a professor of chemistry, she then chaired the division of science and math at Howard Payne University, Brownwood, TX. Since 1995, Dr. Murphy has taught at the University of Mary Hardin- Baylor, Belton, TX, where she chairs the Department of Chemistry, Environmental Science and Geology, holds the Amy LeVesconte Professorship of Chemistry, directs the Recycling Program, co- chairs the Health Professions Advisory Committee, and is Principal Investigator for the Robert A. Welch Foundation research grant. Dr. Murphy enjoys making chemistry relevant to her students by infusing environmental and other examples from daily life into her courses.