W.J. Oswald, 86, Algae Miracle Worker, Dies

By DOUGLAS MARTIN

William J. Oswald, a scientist who pioneered ways to use algae to address immense human problems - including treating sewage, increasing food supplies, generating energy and facilitating voyages into deep space - died on Dec. 8 at his home in Concord, Calif. He was 86.

The cause was pancreatic cancer, said the University of California, Berkeley, where Dr. Oswald was a professor emeritus in civil and environmental engineering.

Dr. Oswald promised miracles from the humblest of plants and proceeded to perform more than a few.