Murdoch leading new project to improve enhanced geothermal energy
Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences | Fall 2022
Murdoch leading new project to improve enhanced geothermal energy
A team of researchers led by Larry Murdoch was recently awarded $4 million by the U.S. Department of Energy for research seeking to improve the performance of enhanced geothermal systems, a virtually limitless carbon-free energy supply.
Clemson team awarded PIRE grant from the National Science Foundation
A team led by David Ladner has been awarded a $1.5 million grant, the first ever received by Clemson faculty from the NSF’s Partnerships for International Research and Education Program.
Ancient South American dust helps reveal new clues about the future of the Earth’s climate
Dust that was deposited at the foot of the Andes Mountains in Argentina over the last 1.15 million years helps explain how wind patterns have shifted and could offer clues about what is to come as the Earth’s climate changes.
Gleasman wins grant from the Geological Society of America
Gavin Gleasman, a doctoral student working with Kelly Lazar, was awarded a grant for research investigating the impacts of high-energy storm events on carbon storage in North Inlet — Winyah Bay, South Carolina.
Biosystems engineering students win poster awards at Appalachian State Energy Summit
Three Creative Inquiry student interns in Caye Drapcho’s lab this summer earned poster awards at the Appalachian State Energy Summit held in Boone, N.C.
Brian Powell, the Fjeld Professor in Nuclear Environmental Engineering and Science, received one of Clemson’s highest honors at this year’s annual research symposium for his research that focuses on protecting the environment from contamination.
Sudeep Popat was promoted from assistant to associate professor with tenure, Alan Coulson and Minory Nammouz were promoted from senior to principal Lecturer, and Mary Kate Fidler was promoted from lecturer to senior lecturer.
Bahamon Pinzon developing low-cost, high-tech sensors to detect pesticides
Bahamon Pinzon’s research is focused on developing low-cost facile electrochemical sensors for amperometric determination of pesticides in water samples, including glyphosate, a widely used herbicide.
A collaboration to create the next generation of talent for water treatment
The need for water operators who help ensure the nation has safe water supplies is driving a new collaboration between Central Carolina Technical College and Clemson University.
We’re back in person! Just over two years since the global pandemic upended normal operations on the campus (not to mention everywhere else), the Fall 2022 semester is in full swing with full classrooms, offices and research labs. It feels good to be back.
As this newsletter shows, a lot has been happening in EEES over the last several months. There are some really noteworthy activities on the research front. The lead article is about a major new project led by Larry Murdoch that is directed at improving how energy can be harnessed from the subsurface. David Ladner led a team that culminated in a major new project from the National Science Foundation’s Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) Program, the first such award received by Clemson University. Alex Pullen and colleagues published a fascinating article in Nature Communications that describes how dust samples from the Andes Mountains were used to reconstruct climatic conditions dating back as far as 1.15 million years. Brian Powell was selected for the 2022 Researcher of the Year Award, another outstanding honor for Brian. Four of the EEES faculty received well-deserved promotions. And our students continue to excel, as evidenced by awards given to graduate students Gavin Gleason and David Bahamon, plus several undergraduate students in a biosystems engineering Creative Inquiry class.
Perhaps the biggest news of all for EEES this Fall semester was the official launch of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. The School is comprised of EEES and the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering. Jesus M. de la Garza was selected to serve as the founding director of the school. With both departments under one umbrella, the school is one of the largest academic units at Clemson University. The college has committed to hiring 12 new faculty members, which will make the school one of the largest units of its type nationwide. Chao Fan is the first hire, and he joined us this fall. Josh Bregy is the second hire, and he will join us in January. You can read more about the launch of the school here.
Wishing you a wonderful fall,
David Freedman, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
The Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences Newsletter is published by the Department and the PROMO Office in Clemson University’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.
