Future Vision for Science
Sara McMillan, PhD
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Carmen Agouridis, PhD, PE, MPP
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Stream restoration is a relatively young scientific and engineering field, coming about in the mid-to-late twentieth century as a response to efforts to develop resilient, cost-effective nature-based solutions. This followed historical efforts, such as levees and channelization, focused on controlling fluvial processes using hardened (i.e., concrete or riprap) structures. Since that time, scientists and engineers have called for greater levels of monitoring, clear definitions of success metrics, and research to evaluate project success to serve as a feedback mechanism for designers and determine design efficacy and improvement needs. We will explore a vision for the future of science as it pertains to stream restoration with a particular focus on research, workforce development, and collaborative partnerships.
About Carmen Agouridis, PhD, PE, MPP
Carmen Agouridis is the Associate Dean for Instruction in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and an Extension Professor of Ecosystem Protection and Restoration in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Agouridis’s research focuses on using applied research to address current issues in the natural resource management, particularly restoration of water systems impacted by agricultural, urban, or mining activities. She is a former member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Earth Resources. Dr. Agouridis has served as principal or co-principal investigator on over $9.4 million in grants, authored 50 refereed publications and over 30 extension publications, and advised over 30 undergraduate and graduate research projects. Dr. Agouridis received the American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers’ 2014 A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award. She is a certified professional engineer in Kentucky. Dr. Agouridis holds a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering and an M.S. in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from the University of Tennessee. She holds Master’s degrees in Public Policy and Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from the University of Kentucky.
About Sara McMillan, PhD
Sara McMillan is an Associate Professor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University. She is also a Professional Engineer with expertise in ecological restoration and stormwater management. Sara’s research focuses on how humans impact water quality in streams, rivers, and wetlands and how climate change will affect access to clean water, sustainable food production, and healthy ecosystems. She uses lab and field-based techniques along with modeling tools to develop solutions to environmental problems. Her current research focuses on restoring ecosystems to improve water quality including projects on green infrastructure, sustainable urban agriculture, and river restoration.