In 1990, Chancellor Martin Jischke appointed an Environmental Task Force, chaired by Professors Dan Armstrong and Bill James, to undertake four specific tasks:

1. Assess the needs of industry and government in the environmental and waste areas, particularly in Missouri
2. Assess the strength and weaknesses of Missouri S&T in environmental science and technology
3. Evaluate the availability of funding and support in this area
4. Develop and effective, interdisciplinary plan for Missouri S&T that will result in a state- and nationally-recognized program.

It was the conclusion of the task force and of several outside contacts (industrial and academic) that an interdisciplinary center would be the most viable way to consolidate the Missouri S&T effort in the area of environmental science and technology. It would allow better communication between researchers within Missouri S&T and between Missouri S&T and the environmental, industrial, academic, and governmental communities. A center would be more visible to the outside world and would help establish Missouri S&T’s credibility in this area. Furthermore, a center would probably attract more federal and state funding than might individual researchers.

Accordingly, the Center for Environmental Science and Technology (CEST) was created to bring together extensive and diverse engineering and scientific capabilities of Missouri S&T to address environmental problems, issues, and education. Daniel Armstrong was named director and two senior investigators — Professor Shubhender Kapila (Chemistry) and Professor Virgil Flanigan (Mechanical Engineering) — were appointed by the director. Professor William James took over the reigns of CEST on an interim basis in 1994. Professor Flanigan was appointed as the Director in 1997.