Expert Witness
Testimony has been given in the areas of groundwater contamination, stream erosion, stormwater flooding, pumping hydraulics and engineering ethics. While some opinions were provided based on site inspection and existing evidence, major cases required detailed sampling analysis, and modeling that reached the level of engineering research.
Research
At Oklahoma State University, research was carried out on the design and operation of biorentention cells for on-site treatment of stormwater, and the hydrology of dryland crops on the Great Plains. Work was also completed on the characterization of porous media using gamma ray tomography, the transport of volatile contaminants in unsaturated soils, the determination of physical impacts to soil resulting from surfactant flushing and the development of gamma ray emission tomography systems to track radionuclicide transport in geologic materials.
At Sandia National Laboratories, experiments were conducted that measured the transport of radionuclides and bacteria in a fractured dolomite. Study results supported the successful Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, (WIPP) permit application. At Colorado State University, research was conducted on unsaturated and multiphase flow in porous media, solute transport and prediction of contaminant transport from waste retorted shale disposal piles. In addition, work was completed on the hydraulic modeling of large river systems, sediment transport processes, and environmental impact of river modifications.
At Gulf Oil Corporation, permitting studies were conducted on the prediction of hydrologic impacts and the reclamation of surface and underground coal mines. Projects were located across the nation, including permanent permits in four states. Studies were coordinated between mine personnel and state and federal regulators. Contract supervision and control was also provided for external consultants.
Teaching
The largest effort has been Fluid Mechanics, a core engineering science taken by seven different majors. It has been delivered in Stillwater, Tulsa, Montpellier, France, and Puebla, Mexico. In addition, 20 different traditional classes were taught in Biosystems Engineering, Civil Engineering and Agriculture. Two Biosystems undergraduate core classes, Experimental Methods and Heat and Mass Transfer, were created to address curricular revisions. In total, delivered classes have served over 5,500 students. Teaching leadership included serving as Departmental Graduate Coordinator and Coordinator of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Study Abroad While Graduate Coordinator from 2004 to 2015, graduate enrollment almost doubled, while maintaining one-half domestic enrollment. As lead instructor and then Coordinator of the CEAT Study Abroad, efforts resulted in a total program enrollment of 430 students from 2005 to 2014. The effort included the development of an eight-week study abroad class in France that allowed students to earn nine credit hours including two regular engineering classes. A total of 38 students participated in that program in 2013 and 2014.