Faculty News

Shideh Dashti named 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecturer

Susan Glairon — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:02:26 +0000

Shideh Dashti named 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecturer Susan Glairon Tue, 02/04/2025 - 11:02

Associate Professor Shideh Dashti received the 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecture Award for her groundbreaking work in geotechnical earthquake engineering.

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Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology

Susan Glairon — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:51:05 +0000

Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology Susan Glairon Mon, 02/03/2025 - 11:51

Susan Glairon

Professor Rajagopalan Balaji, a ��ϳԹ� professor of civil engineering and an expert in hydrology, climatology and water resources, was elected as an honorary fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society in December. The honor was received on his behalf at the inaugural ceremony of TROPMET 2024, India’s annual tropical meteorology conference.

Rajagopalan has dedicated more than 25 years researching Indian monsoon variability as a way to give back to his home country. His research aims to improve flood preparedness and explore the complex relationship between monsoonal climate and public health.

“Making significant advances in understanding Indian monsoon variability is a labor of love,” Rajagopalan says. “This honor is particularly meaningful and gratifying, especially being recognized as part of such a select group.”

Rajagopalan Is one of 21 honorary fellows, joining a distinguished group that includes the late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, PhD, a former president of India. The honor recognizes those who have made significant contributions to meteorological research, education or practice, both in India and globally.

In 2023 Rajagopalan received a Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship. His Fulbright work in India centered around developing monsoon forecasting models to aid residents in flood preparedness; exploring the intricate interplay between monsoonal climate and public health; and unraveling the monsoon variability over a timeframe of 5,000 to 10,000 years, along with its role in the peopling of the Indian subcontinent.

India, in particular, remains highly vulnerable to the monsoon’s variability, and the impact extends beyond floods or droughts. The monsoons also affect water quality, public health, agricultural output and even the Indian stock market, he says.

Weaker rainfall directly impacts the country’s GDP, given that at least 50 percent of the population resides in villages heavily reliant on agriculture. Crop failures often drive rural residents to migrate to urban areas in search of employment, placing sudden strain on urban resources. This has an impact on nutrition, poverty and public health, he says.

Founded in 1956, the Indian Meteorological Society was established to promote the advancement of meteorology in India and to provide a platform for scientists, researchers and professionals in the field to collaborate and share knowledge.

Professor Rajagopalan Balaji was named an honorary fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society for his pioneering research on Indian monsoon variability and its impacts on public health and flood preparedness.

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��ϳԹ� faculty recognized for advancing environmental engineering

Susan Glairon — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 23:20:01 +0000

��ϳԹ� faculty recognized for advancing environmental engineering Susan Glairon Mon, 01/13/2025 - 16:20

Two professors from ��ϳԹ�’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering have been honored by The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists through its 40 Under 40 Recognition Program.

Associate Professor Sherri Cook and Assistant Professor Cresten Mansfeldt were recognized as “talented individuals who have, either personally or as part of a team, been responsible for helping to advance the fields of environmental science or environmental engineering in a demonstrable way within the last 12 months,” according to the academy’s website.

Cook received her BS from Virginia Tech and her MSE and PhD from the University of Michigan. At ��ϳԹ�, she pioneered three courses that teach sustainability principles to students across disciplines. Her research focuses on sustainable solutions to global drinking water and sanitation challenges, aiming to improve treatment systems while minimizing risks to human health, the environment, and financial stability. Her research has included innovative technologies such as biochar-based micropollutant removal from wastewater and advancing zero-carbon bio-cement through her co-founded company, Prometheus.

Mansfeldt earned his PhD at Cornell University, after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota. He refined his expertise during a postdoctoral fellowship at Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. Mansfeldt teaches courses on material flows, from microbial carbon cycling to urban waste management. His research focuses on the interplay between natural and built environments, emphasizing water reuse, the microbiome of built environments and the impacts of disasters, such as wildfires, on urban systems. Past projects include monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in campus wastewater, evaluating the risk of synthetic biology products and exploring the bioethics of biological innovations in environmental engineering. His current research examines contaminants from wildland-urban interfaces, tracking synthetic biology products in the environment and advancing water reuse.

Associate Professor Sherri Cook and Assistant Professor Cresten Mansfeldt have been honored by The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists through its 40 Under 40 Recognition Program.

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As Colorado schools get hotter, air conditioning is still out of reach for some

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:22:53 +0000

As Colorado schools get hotter, air conditioning is still out of reach for some Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/31/2022 - 09:22

Paul Chinowsky is interviewed in a new Colorado Sun feature on obstacles to air conditioning in schools.

The article discusses how schools are handling the growing need for cooler temperatures in K-12 buildings.

Chinowsky, an emeritus professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and director of the Environmental Design Program, is an expert on climate and infrastructure.

Read the full article at the Colorado Sun...

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Chinowsky discusses seawall barriers with RollCall

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 15:57:55 +0000

Chinowsky discusses seawall barriers with RollCall Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/29/2022 - 09:57

Professor Paul Chinowsky discusses a push to expand seawalls in an interview with Roll Call.

The piece highlights funding from the federal government to build barriers to hold back ocean surges in the face of climate challenges.

Chinowsky, an emeritus professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, is an expert on climate and infrastructure.

Read the full article at Roll Call...

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Faculty News

Shideh Dashti named 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecturer

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Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology

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���ϳԹ� faculty recognized for advancing environmental engineering

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As Colorado schools get hotter, air conditioning is still out of reach for some

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Chinowsky discusses seawall barriers with RollCall

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��ϳԹ� faculty recognized for advancing environmental engineering