Laboratory insights into invasive fish speicies transport in rivers
AI’s challenging waters
Urban heating and cooling to play role in future energy demand
Researchers introduce programmable material to heal help broken bones
Regional variablity in toxicity to provide insights for air quality policy
NURail CoE opening ceremony held in Newmark Lab
CEE hosts Engineering Mechanics Institute 2024 Conference
Garcia awarded Doctor Honoris Causa
Nguyen named Fulbright Scholar, Specialist
Getting involved in the Industry Partners Program
CEE alumnus Santiago Martinez talks impact of joining IPP
Finding the perfect fit, a student Q&A
Building a brighter future: Celebrating the YED scholarship
Department News
In Memoriam
Alumni News
Students in Action
CEE Staff Feature: Meet the Undergraduate Team!
Parting Shot: A piece of history
istockphoto.com/FrankRamspot
Professor Youssef Hashash took part in a reconnaissance mission investigating the impacts of storm surge, resulting sediment erosion, and debris transport from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The information collected, Hashash hopes, will contribute to the design of structures more resilient to severe weather events.
Check out these and other stories at
Assistant Professor Lei Zhao will lead a NASA funded project hoping to sharpen existing tools used for modeling urbanization in collarboartion with researchers from Yale and the Pacific Northwest National Lab.
Arif Masud has been awarded 1.5 M node hours by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop tools for coupling models vital to big-picture climate modeling. With this NSF provided computational resource, Masud and his team hope to improve methods for hurricane prediction.
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istockphoto.com/ValeryBrozhinsky
uA project led by CEE Student Outreach Specialist Dr. Maryam Ghadiri will provide AI access to schools in the ChampaignUrbana area.
CEEAA Board of Directors
President Dana B. Mehlman, P.E. (BS 99, MS 01) Vedder Price PC Chicago
Vice President
Daniel J. Whalen, P.E. (BS 84, MS 85) Hanson Professional Services Inc. Springfield, Ill.
Second Vice President and Secretary Justin R. Lewis, P.E. (BS 07, MS 08) Keller North America Chicago
Past President
David L. Byrd, P.E. (BS 01, MS 06) Specialty Consulting, Inc. Chicago
Directors Ama O. Addai, P.E. (BS 04) Ardmore Roderick Chicago
Adrianne Ball (BS 07)
Project SYNCERE Chicago
Jackie A. Becker, P.E. (BS 07) Ameren Transmission St. Louis, Mo.
Kimberly Cummins, P.E. (BS 98) Cummins Engineering Corporation Springfield, Ill.
Thomas Frankie, P.E., S.E. (BS 08, MS 10, PhD 13) Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Indianapolis, Ind.
Kevin C. Fuhr, P.E. (BS 96) Hanson Professional Services Inc. Raleigh, N.C.
Brian S. Heil, P.E., (BS 96, MS 97) Oates Associates, Inc. Collinsville, Ill.
Matthew A. Johnson, P.E., S.E. (BS 04, MS 08) Fehr Graham Champaign
Kurt A. Keifer, P.E. (BS 97, MS 99, PhD 06) QES Engineering - Inspection Austin, Texas
Lance Langer, P.E. (BS 15) CHA Consulting, Inc. Indianapolis, Ind.
Nadja Lawrence, P.E. (BS 07) Metropolitan Water Reclamation, District of Greater Chicago Chicago
Lauren Logan (PhD 18) Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio
Michael J. Mack, P.E. (BS 89) Burns & McDonnell Chicago
Andrew J. Martin, P.E. (BS 98) Greeley and Hansen LLC Chicago
Douglas S. Pelletier (BS 95) Burns & McDonnell Chicago
Highlighting our successes
By AnA BArros, nAE
DonAlD BiggAr WillE tt ChAir in EnginEEring AnD hEAD
Dear Alumni and Friends of CEE, Another semester draws to a close, and what a beautiful fall it has been on campus! As always when the leaves begin to turn, I reflect on what has come to pass for our department in the past year. The ensuing pages of our CEE magazine will delve into much of the innovation, accomplishments and triumphs our faculty and students have had a hand in throughout the summer and fall months, but allow me here to pay special attention to some of the highlights:
This fall, we welcomed the largest first-year class in our department’s history. This is, no doubt, partly due to our inaugural class of first-year students in the B.S. environmental engineering program. We have been anxiously anticipating their arrival since the announcement of the program and are excited to watch them grow into capable and solution-focused environmental engineers. This firstyear class is 74 students strong, and notably, 56% female. I am especially proud of this last figure, as growing the number women in engineering is something we take very seriously as a department. Alongside our outstanding enrollment among first-year environmental engineering students, our total undergraduate enrollment also reflects a growing presence of aspiring female engineers, with our undergraduate student body now 36% female across both the civil and en-
vironmental degree programs. This percentage is the highest it has ever been, and if this year’s strong representation is any indication of how the environmental engineering program will boost female interest in our engineering programs, I think we have much to be excited about!
We have also made our triumphant return to the #1 civil engineering graduate program as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. What an achievement! After several years as the #2 program, we are immensely grateful to see our track record of excellence in research, education, students and faculty recognized as we regain the coveted top position. I consider the ways in which we must work to maintain this position and I envision a two-pronged approach: First, we must continue to provide the world-class education, faculty and facilities that are hallmark of the CEE at Illinois program. On top of that, we must also embrace opportunities for growth that will keep our students prepared to take on the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
One of the ways in which we have strived to create new opportunities is through our Industry Partner Program (IPP). Later in the magazine, you’ll hear from our Interim Associate Director for Industry Partnerships on the state of the program, and ways to get involved in our growing effort. You’ll also see a first-hand example
of how membership connects you to high-quality students in the search for internships and job opportunities, and additionally learn how joining the IPP can enhance student-focused programs your company may already have. Though still young in its development, the IPP’s growth in the last year has been remarkable, and I am confident in saying this is just the beginning for many fruitful partnerships between CEE at Illinois and our counterparts in industry.
On my final note, I circle back to two other outstanding figures concerning our undergraduate enrollment this fall. First, of our first-year class, 20% are first generation students. We owe this promising number to the generosity of our alumni and friends, and the commitment of our faculty and staff to recruit students from all backgrounds across the state of Illinois and beyond. We strive to increase our first-generation enrollment each year, and I truly believe this starts with growing the scholarship funds available to these students though your continued support.
Second, I would like to note that our overall undergraduate student body totals 72% in-state students. As a land-grant institution, we take great pride in our ability to give back to the state in which we exist, and that starts with positioning ourselves Continued on the next page
Highlighting our successes
Continued from the previous page
as the premiere educational institution for Illinois-born civil and environmental engineers. Each one of these students have been impacted by the work of civil engineers in our state, from the water running through their household taps to the roads they drive on every single day. They now find themselves uniquely positioned to learn about and impact those very same systems, and we are grateful to afford them that opportunity.
We are proud to be called home by so many Illinois-born students, and equally as proud of the other ways in which we serve our state. Our faculty play a large part in this, through the numerous projects and research endeavors they take on each year in collaboration with state institutions. As a featured story in this issue, we have compiled a small snapshot of recent, ongoing and upcoming projects our faculty have participated in to benefit quality of life across many different sectors throughout the state- a phenomenon I like to think of as our “Illinois Impact.” The importance of this work cannot be overstated. It may have even impacted you, our dear readers who call the state of Illinois home, in ways you have never realized!
CEEAA update
By DAnA B. MEhlMAn (BS 99, MS 01) PrEsiDEnt, CEE AluMni AssoCiAtion BoArD of DirEC tors
Each of us, at one point in our career has engaged in some form of the following conversation:
Q: Oh, you’re a civil engineer. What is a civil engineer?
A: You proceed to regale the listener with examples from your specialty area: Civil Engineers design and build [pick one or more of the following: bridges, skyscrapers, roads, tunnels, water and sewer systems, etc.].
But is that what a civil engineer really is?
The United States Department of Labor states that “Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects.”
The American Society of Civil Engineers says that “Civil engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation for our modern society – our buildings, roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, sea ports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment, to name just a few.”
across the distinct areas.
Today, the Department has three interdisciplinary areas of study, each specifically designed to integrate what had once been seen as distinct disciplines, in order to represent real world conditions:
• Societal Risk and Hazard Mitigation (SRHM) concentrates on risk determination, evaluation, and management for natural and humanmade hazards, as well as disaster response and recovery to ensure the development of a secure and safe society.
• Energy-Water-Environment Sustainability (EWES) is focused on providing and supporting sustainable solutions for the exploration, production, delivery and use of energy, to address diverse challenges related to society’s growing energy needs and their nexus with water and the natural and built environment.
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Though not exhaustive, I hope this forward emphasizes what we strive to convey with each edition of the CEE Magazine: that the state of our department is stronger than ever. With gratitude I acknowledge the stalwart support of our alumni and friends, and with excitement I look towards another year of innovation and growth within our department.
Go Illini!
When I was an undergraduate, there were six areas of study in the CEE Department: structural, transportation, environmental, geotechnical, water resources, and construction. Each CEE student was required to have a primary specialty area and a secondary specialty area, but there was no true integration
• Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Systems (SRIS) addresses emerging approaches to infrastructure systems focusing on resiliency and sustainability of inter-connected infrastructure, in order to prepare new generations of civil engineers who are ready to address pressing societal issues while developing needed infrastructure.
The Department is currently in the
New major!
process of updating its Mission Statement, and nowhere in the statement drafts have the words build, or construct been utilized. Nor has the mission statement been drafted to reflect the bridges, buildings, roads, or infrastructure with which civil engineers are so often associated.
Instead, like the interdisciplinary programs that the Department has developed, the mission statement focuses on developing high quality engineers, scholars, and civil leaders who will then be able to create innovative and sustainable global solutions to solve 21st century challenges.
It turns out that “being an engineer” is only one part of being a civil engineer. And while designing and building infrastructure and other necessary structures are lofty accomplishments and goals, they are only a part of creating innovative and sustainable global solutions to solve 21st century challenges.
We should endeavor to be defined not by what we are but by what we do. As civil engineers, we strive to make our world a better place for our generation and for generations to come.
We hope to see you February 20, 2025, at the Union League Club in Chicago as we celebrate distinguished alumni who have worked hard to accomplish that mission.
Go Illini!!!��������
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Students will:
Learn the skills to take on climate change and solve complex, evolving societal challenges
Choose an emphasis: environmental sustainability with energy, climate, water resources, public health, or clean water and sanitation
Engage in hands-on undergraduate research
Enter the rapidly growing job market for Environmental Engineers protecting communities and ecosystems
CEE CREATING POSITIVE IMPACTS ON ILLINOIS’ FUTURE:
IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSPIRING ITS
NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
By MElissA CoynE
CEE at Illinois is tackling some of the world’s most critical and complex challenges to create a better future, not only globally, but locally; Illinois isn’t just the home of the department, it is the focus of some of its most innovative, impactful research.
Over the years CEE faculty and research centers have made significant achievements in creating sustainable solutions to some of Illinois’ toughest problems. In doing so, they have cultivated a long-standing collaborative partnership with the state, where organizations and agencies rely upon CEE experts to inform policy and programmatic decisions.
Solving Water Challenges
Marcelo H. Garcia, M.T. Geoffrey Yeh Endowed Chair of Civil Engineering at Illinois and Director of the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory, is one of the world’s foremost experts in water resources engineering and science. He has devoted a substantial amount of research towards solving Illinois’ multifaceted water challenges, with his hydraulic modeling and research vastly improving water management systems, making an impact on Illinois communities from Champaign to Chicago.
Soon after arriving at UIUC in the 1990s, Garcia and the Hydrosystems Lab researchers began constructing physical models to address concerns in Illinois water systems. This led to
the design of a stepped spillway for the Glen D. Palmer Dam in Yorkville, Illinois, which resulted in improved safety and hydraulic conditions and the elimination of the “drowning machine” that had claimed the lives of at least 26 people. Additional models were built and led to the successful redevelopment of Boneyard Creek in Champaign-Urbana to alleviate longterm flooding.
The positive impact of these early projects facilitated the expansion of Garcia’s hydraulic modeling research and led to his decades-long partnership with agencies in the Chicago area.
In 2001, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) first reached out to Garcia when local engineers were struggling to identify the cause of an unusual bi-directional flow in the Chicago River that had the potential to lead wastewater contamination not only into the river but also out into Lake Michigan. Researchers at the lab were able to build a 3D numerical model of the system, with the resulting simulations proving the likelihood of Garcia’s theory that density currents were causing the flow.
They were also able to design, construct, and operate a physical hydraulic model of the Chicago River in the Hydrosystems Lab. In subsequent years, they have learned that the cause of the denser water was due to salt runoff from the winter roadways and have worked to explore ways to prevent such currents.
Garcia’s research group has also developed numerical models of various facilities at MWRDGC’s wastewater treatment plants, resulting in
substantially improved treatment efficiency.
This research was one of the first applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for design of water infrastructure, and led the way for MWRDGC to task Garcia with developing a new, enhanced computer model for Chicago’s $4 billion Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP). The MWRDGC adopted TARP in 1972, beginning the construction of over 109 miles of tunnels and reservoirs to solve the combined sewer overflow (CSO) pollution and flooding problems in the Chicago-land area.
Garcia was asked to update the original computer models by creating a new real-time flow model to optimize operation of the system and perform “what-if” analyses for potential storm scenarios and facility revisions. Garcia’s research and contributions to TARP have significantly tempered Chicago’s problem with flooding and CSO pollution.
In the mid-2000s, Garcia once again worked with MWDRGS in developing MetroFlow, a new, innovative framework to evaluate integrated urban drainage systems at the city level. Garcia, along with Post doctoral fellow, Hao Luo, used Chicago’s combined sewer system and TARP as its test
bed, and showed that MetroFlow was able to predict storm-driven overflows and the performance of the drainage infrastructure. They were also able to identify hot spots likely to experience overflows during and after heavy rainfall. MetroFlow and its descendants are also being used to assess the occurrence of geysering in the metro-Chicago area during intense rainfall events, also attempting to develop strategies to prevent them.
MetroFlow gives other cities the ability to utilize Garcia’s Chicago drainage research in a simpler way, so they can test possible infrastructure solutions in the face of expanding urbanization and extreme weather events related to climate change, prior to making costly repairs or new construction. For instance, a DualDrainage Model (DDM) is currently being applied in the community of Chatham, on Chicago’s southside, to mitigate basement flooding issues and analyze different water drainage alternatives involving both grey and green infrastructure.
Garcia used the framework on another MWRDGC project with the Chicago Area Waterways (CAWS), resulting in the first 3D hydrodynamic and water quality modeling of the Chicago River system, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) and the Cal-Sag Canal on the south side. MetroFlow was also used to analyze the dynamics of nutrients in the waterways as well as potential harmful
algae bloom conditions.
Along with the MWRDGC, Garcia has received support at the state level from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the IllinoisIndiana Sea Grant Program. He also serves on the Leadership Committee on the Great Lakes Stormwater Collaborative, Great Lakes Commission. In 2023 he presented the results of the University of Illinois study on the Lake Michigan’s significant flow into the CAWS during higher stages of the lake.
Recent and ongoing efforts by Garcia include developing a model of the sewers to help the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) determine the best places to sample to identify potential COVID-19 hotspots. His group provided the best sewer sampling locations used to monitor during the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. Garcia’s research group is also developing a numerical model to help the City of Elgin determine the impact of potential removal of the Fox River Kimball Street Dam on water levels at the City’s drinking-water intake. Several low-head dams will be removed along the Fox River as part of an ecological restoration plan advanced by IDNR in partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE).
Most recently, in October 2024, Garcia received a research grant from the Chicago District of USACOE to study the impact of Lake Michigan water levels on the CAWS. The
objective of the 12-month long research project will be to analyze the impact Lake Michigan water levels have on the flow of water from Lake Michigan via the Grand Calumet River, flowing from Indiana into Illinois. Garcia had previously discovered that during the water years 2020 to 2022, when lake levels were high, water from Lake Michigan was coming into Illinois from Indiana in an uncontrolled fashion. Because of high water levels, the flow of the Grand Calumet River reversed and instead of flowing into the Lake at Indiana Harbor, it began flowing from the harbor towards the Cal-Sag channel in Chicago. In addition to potentially impacting the pristine water from the lake, the effluent from the wastewater treatment plants in Gary and Hammond, Indiana, was also coming towards Illinois
His new research will investigate how much water flowed into Illinois during this time period and the impact it had on the Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting (LMDA), as well as flood management in the CSSC. A consent decree by the U.S. Supreme Court dictates how much water Illinois (Chicago) can take from Lake Michigan, the amount of which is to be certified by the USACOE based on the analysis performed in this project.
The results of the study will impact water management in Chicagoland and affect water diversion accounting processes in Lake Michigan. The amount of unaccounted water flow could be significant, which would affect the water budget for the Chicago region.
CEE is also paving the way for collaboration with other Illinois depart-
Learn more about Dr. Garcia’s research
LEARN MORE:
Visit Illinois Impact webpage for update and information on CEE’s projects impacting Illinois
ments too, including the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Transportation Innovation
The university and IDOT have worked together to improve Illinois’ highways since the 1940s, but in 2005 IDOT and CEE accelerated that relationship to the next level when Imad L. Al-Qadi, the Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, became founder and director of the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT).
ICT originated as an innovative partnership between IDOT and CEE, to serve the transportation needs of the state and the nation through research, education, and outreach, striving to develop and implement cost-effective technologies that enhance safety, reduce congestion, and minimize environmental impacts.
The center, located in Rantoul, Illinois, has grown tremendously over the last 20 years, completing over 385 joint projects that have informed IDOT’s policy-making standards and procedures, positively impacting safety in Illinois.
In July 2024, ICT and IDOT expanded their partnership with the announcement of a 6-year $48 million agreement for their joint research program. There are already 40 projects scheduled for this fall as part of this program, organized under eight advisory groups: bridges and foundations, environmental impacts, mobility and freight modes, mobility safety, operations and maintenance, pavements and materials, planning, policy, and asset management, and sustainable construction.
Yanfeng Ouyang, University of Illinois George Krambles Endowed Professor in Rail and Public Transit, was
named the ICT Associate Director for Mobility in 2023, with a goal of expand ing and deepen ing ICT’s footprint in the transportation systems and mobility areas, both as a researcher himself and as a facilitator.
Ouyang’s collaborations with IDOT started in 2006, and have involved analyzing past and present data to improve IDOT safety policies from railways to roadways to transit systems, helping to keep Illinois at the forefront of the nation’s safety engineering practice.
In the summer 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ouyang was asked by Chicago’s Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and IDOT to research the 80-95% drop in ridership in its public transit systems. Ouyang lead a special “fast-turnaround” project to analyze the pandemic’s impacts on Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra ridership, and provide IDOT, the RTA, and CTA with insights to make effective policy decisions and identify planning resources for any future disruptions.
Ouyang and his students investigated questions around whether fear of infection was a main factor causing the ridership plunge, if ridership would rebound in the near future, and whether transit services should be reduced. They quickly developed a series of statistical models for CTA rail and bus systems, analyzed the ridership data before and during the pandemic, and identified contributing factors of ridership loss.
Their findings determined that while fear was a factor that deterred ridership initially after the pandemic, within a few months it was no longer the most significant factor. Life-style changes caused by the pandemic and socioeconomic factors explained most of the reductions in ridership. The results indicated that industry policies on workers’ flexibility to work remotely are a key factor in determining full ridership recovery, and supported the recommendation that CTA and other transit agencies collaborate with the public and private sectors to develop policy instruments to address these factors.
While the pandemic may have ended, Ouyang and his students continue to investigate, now from a retrospective point of view, which long-term effects are most significantly impacting people’s decision to ride commuter rail transit, and what factors have helped CTA and Metra’s ridership to return towards pre-pandemic levels.
Shifting focus from railways to roadways, Ouyang was also part of another recent project, led by CEE Profs. Khaled El-Rayes and EJ Ignacio, to assess design guidance for smart work zone (SWZ) systems in Illinois. IDOT has used these systems for over 20 years to inform motorists, en courage them to take alternate routes, reduce their frustrations, reduce roadway conges-
tion, and enhance safety for motorists and workers in work zones. Despite the benefits of SWZ systems, there is little guidance on standardizing their adoption and implementation to maximize safety.
Researchers gathered data around work zone mobility including speed, traffic volume and delay times, as well as driver safety compliance and accident rates to assess the effectiveness of various SWZ system implementations strategies.
Based on their data, they were able to develop guidelines to determine when SWZ systems are needed as well as how to design and ensure the systems are adequately operating to maximize safety and work zone mobility, helping to reduce traffic incidents as well as increase mobility and cost savings.
Beyond his own projects, as ICT’s Associate Director for Mobility, Ouyang is extremely excited by the large portfolio of IDOT projects being conducted at ICT, especially those focused on adapting to future mobility challenges in Illinois. A new generation of vehicles including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, is promising transformative services for the mobility of passengers and goods, from flying taxis to
With companies like Amazon already testing large-scale drone delivery systems in Texas and California, Ouyang sees the potential benefits and convenience this new aircraft technology could bring to Illinois. However, he acknowledges these benefits also come with new safety challenges for air traffic management, aerial traffic congestion, noise pollution, and potential privacy violations. Creating an air mobility infrastructure plan to safely accommodate future air transportation systems in these continuous air spaces has now become a vital part of transportation planning in Illinois.
ICT’s Advancing Air Mobility (AAM) in Illinois project, led by Prof. Hani Mahmassani at Northwestern University, is a part of this planning. AAM is proactively preparing Illinois for the emergence and advancement of highly automated aircraft operations in the lower altitudes of the National Airspace System.
Ouyang has also been actively working in this direction as well, with support from the US DOT, facilitating ICT’s plans to continue to build upon the AAM research to propel Illinois into the forefront of air mobility advancement while also creating a safer, comprehensive, more sustain-
able multimodal transportation infrastructure in Illinois. One of the most recent projects playing an important role in the future of advanced mobility services in Illinois is ICT’s development of the proposed Illinois Autonomous Connected Track (I-ACT), a net-zero, high-speed track for testing electrified, connected and autonomous vehicles including drone technology.
Projects like I-ACT are also a key factor in ICT helping IDOT achieve its goal of net-zero emissions in transportation by 2050. And with even more projects on the horizon at both the state and national levels, Ouyang and ICT are poised to shape the future of transportation while creating significant, sustainable improvements in the quality of life for people not just in Illinois, but across the nation and even the world.
As Illinois moves into the future, CEE will continue to be a leader and partner in strengthening its water resources, infrastructure, and transportation, while also inspiring a new generation of leaders to create innovative solutions for a brighter tomorrow.
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drone deliveries.
Laboratory insights into invasive fish species transport in rivers From the Center for Secure Water:
By rAfAEl tinoCo, CEE AssoCiAtE ProfEssor
Understanding the response of aquatic ecosystems to a rapidly changing environment is a challenging task that requires the participation of multidisciplinary teams to understand physical and biological processes across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Through collaboration between civil engineers, hydrologists, and biologists, we have advanced our knowledge on how fish eggs and larvae are transported in rivers, identifying preferential paths and flow conditions that lead to capture or damage of the drifting organisms. This new knowledge will help us design new monitoring and management strategies to maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems, prevent the spread of invasive species, and develop better process-based strategies for stream restoration and stream naturalization.
Natural water systems in flux
Aquatic ecosystems, whether in rivers, lakes, or oceans, are increasingly affected by human activities and rapid environmental changes, with climate change often exacerbating these impacts. Variations in water temperature, quality, and flow dynamics can lead to the decline of native species and the rise of those
better adapted to altered conditions. Additionally, the intentional introduction of certain species to new environments to meet specific societal needs can cause significant harm to local ecosystems.
To mitigate and prevent such damage, it is essential to understand how different species interact with their environments. By analyzing these interactions, we can better manage and modify conditions to either attract or deter organisms from vulnerable areas, ultimately protecting and preserving aquatic ecosystems.
Invasive species outcompete endemic species
A current example of an invasive species in aquatic ecosystems is the so-called Asian Carp, a name associated to four species of carp not native to North America, which includes bighead carp, black carp, grass carp and silver carp. These fish were brought to the United States in the 1970s to control algal blooms but were able to escape onto small tributaries and large rivers to spread over the Mississippi basin. These species
Submerged view of a bubble curatin used in an experiment at the EEL. Photo courtesy Rafael Tinoco
of fish grow and reproduce rapidly, outcompeting native fish populations for resources, altering the local food chain, and affecting recreational and commercial activities where they establish.
Given the challenges of eradicating established carp populations, researchers and engineers are focusing on preventing their spread into the Great Lakes, focusing on stopping the passage of carp during their early life stages, targeting the capture and redirection of eggs and larvae drifting in the current. To achieve this, we need to know how such carp eggs and larvae travel under various flow conditions, and how they interact with the flow and in-stream structures as they travel downstream, in order to identify the best ways to capture them before they reach areas they can populate.
Collaborative work enhances understanding of invasive species management
Given the challenge of predicting the transport of small eggs and larvae in streams, we collaborated with biologists and hydrologists at the US Geological Survey (USGS) to develop a research plan aimed at identifying
the fundamental processes influencing early life stage fish transport. Utilizing the facilities at the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory at the University of Illinois, we first conducted experiments with plastic beads that mimic the size and density of fish eggs. These beads were released into a recirculating channel to observe their dispersion under various discharge conditions and to determine the threshold velocities required to keep them in suspension.
Carp eggs are damaged if they settle or roll around the riverbed, so identifying under which conditions they are brought to the bottom provides useful information for their monitoring. To obtain an accurate characterization of their behavior, we used Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) live eggs from the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) facilities. These eggs were released into a laboratory flume where cameras tracked their movements until hatching in different types of environments. The experiment continued to monitor the larvae as they developed vertical swimming abilities.
The results showed distinct differences in the travel patterns of eggs, newly hatched larvae, and larvae
with vertical swimming capabilities under varying flow velocities. This information is valuable for developing strategies for sampling and capturing these organisms in the field and indicates that larvae actively respond to different flow conditions.
A new tool in invasive species control: Bubble Curtains
Our research, one of the few laboratory studies involving
Continued on the next page
Close-up of grass carp lavae swimming in Odell-Kovasznay type laboratory flume.
Photo courtesy Rafael TInoco
Collection of grass carp eggs at USGS CERC facilities in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Rafael TInoco
live grass carp eggs and larvae, has revealed crucial information about how to predict the movement of organisms in rivers and identify key flow features that affect their transport. These insights paved the way for a novel approach to controlling early life stage invasive carp in rivers: bubble curtains.
Bubble curtains are created by injecting air through a diffuser placed at the bottom of a stream, forming barriers of rising air bubbles. As the bubbles interact with the flow, they produce distinct flow features. While this technology has been used to capture floating plastics in low-speed streams, it shows promise for captur-
14 cee.illinois.edu
ing or deterring invasive fish species.
In a series of experiments at the Ecohydraulics and Ecomorphodynamics Laboratories (EEL), we tested the effectiveness of bubble curtains on various drifting particles, including plastic beads, preserved eggs, and live eggs and larvae. We experimented with different diffuser configurations, orientations relative to the flow, and airflow discharges across a range of velocities representing field conditions.
Our findings revealed how specific configurations can be optimized to target species with particular physical characteristics while allowing other organisms and particles to pass
freely. These results will guide the design of field-scale systems for deployment in tributaries to the Great Lakes, aiming to prevent the passage of invasive fish during critical spawning periods.
Looking forward: do bubble curtains remain effective in natural environments?
While we have identified responses of eggs and larvae to flow features, and have quantified the efficiency of bubble curtains based on organism and flow conditions in laboratory settings, the more complex conditions in the field call for additional steps to ensure the same response and behaviors will be observed in rivers. Real streams present complex bathymetries, with mobile sediment beds and the presence of benthic communities that can be affected by the flow alterations generated by bubble screens. How a bubble screen changes the sediment transport dynamics on a river, its effect on water quality, and how it affects passage of other species, remain open questions to be investigated.
These initial series of experiments provided a unique and extensive dataset that will help develop, calibrate, and validate numerical models to predict the transport of eggs and larvae in streams at risk. As we move beyond proof of concept for the use of bubble screens for invasive fish species, our next steps will involve seeking the deployment of prototype diffusers in tributaries to the Great Lakes, to test feasibility to scale up bubble screen systems capable to capture invasive fish in rivers, as well as assessing their interaction with other species in the stream. i
Collection of grass carp eggs at USGS CERC facilities in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Rafael TInoco
AI’s challenging waters
By AnA PinhEiro PrivE ttE, CEntEr for sECurE WAtEr MAnAging DirEC tor
Fresh water is a precious and limited resource on our planet. Out of all the Earth’s water, only 3% is fresh, and of that, a significant 2.5% is locked away in glaciers and polar ice caps, making it inaccessible. This leaves just 0.5% of the planet’s water readily available to meet the needs of a growing global population alongside the rising demands from agriculture and industry. When the demand for freshwater surpasses the available supply needed to meet both human and ecological needs, we experience water stress. According to the UN-Water program, in 2021, approximately 10% of the global population - 720 million people - lived in countries with high and
critical water stress levels.
One additional factor intensifying the water crisis is the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The data centers required to run large AI models consume vast amounts of power. This significant energy consumption generates large amounts of heat, which in turn requires cooling systems to prevent server overheating. Most common cooling methods (e.g., cooling towers) depend on substantial quantities of clean, fresh water.
Data centers are growing like weeds, and they are thirsty
The rapid growth in the number of data centers—currently estimated at around 11,000 glob -
ally—reflects largely the exponential increase in computational demands for AI. The associated surge in resource consumption raises significant concerns about environmental sustainability, particularly regarding water usage.
Water consumption in data centers varies widely. For example, Google’s hyperscale data centers, which support major services such as Gmail and Google Drive, averaged approximately 550,000 gallons (2.1 million liters) of water per day over the past year. In contrast, smaller data centers generally report much lower water usage, averaging about 18,000 gallons (68,100 liters) per day. In the US, where the average per capita water withdrawal is 132 gallons per day, a large data center consumes water
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equivalent to that of 4200 persons. This makes data centers one of the top 10 of “water-consuming industrial or commercial industries” in the country. The U.S. is home to over 5,300 data centers, and by the end of 2021, around 20% of these centers were drawing water from moderately to highly stressed watersheds in the western U.S. This practice contributes to the growing problem of water scarcity in the region.
AI’s water usage can be categorized into three main areas:
1. Server Cooling (scope-1): On average, depending on the weather conditions and operational settings, data centers can evaporate about 0.26 - 2.4 gallons (1 – 9 liters) per kWh of server energy for cooling purposes.
2. Water-Intensive Electricity Generation (scope-2): The electricity needed to power data centers often comes from thermoelectric or hydroelectric plants, which require significant amounts of water. The national weighted average for thermoelectric and hydroelectric water use is 2.0 gal (7.6 liters) of evaporated water per kWh of electricity consumed.
3. Water Consumption Associated with AI Supply Chains (scope-3). Producing a single microchip, for instance, requires 2.1 – 2.6 gallons (8-10 liters) of water to cool machinery and make sure wafer sheets are free of contaminants.
Tracking water usage in data centers is hard
Over the past decade, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)
disclosure requirements have increasingly focused on greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need to address data center energy consumption. With increasing pressures for tech companies to reach their net zero goals, a large focus for data center efficiency has been on minimizing energy use and increasing reliance on renewable energy sources. The need to minimize water consumption has received considerably less attention or regulatory incentives.
Tracking water usage for data centers, along with its geographic and temporal distribution, is challenging due to insufficient reporting and transparency. AI model cards— fact sheets that detail how AI models are trained and their intended use— typically include information about the scope-2 offsite carbon footprint related to energy consumption during model training. However, these cards generally provide little to no information about water usage.
More transparency leads to better resource management
There is, however, increasing pressure to fully understand the environmental impact of AI. Recently, Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey and other lawmakers introduced the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024. This bill mandates that the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop standards for assessing AI’s environmental impact and to create a voluntary reporting framework for AI developers and operators.
Similarly, the European Union’s (EU) upcoming AI Act will require highrisk AI systems—including powerful models like those behind ChatGPT— to report their energy consumption, resource use, and other impacts throughout their lifecycle. This EU legislation is set to take effect next year.
Greater transparency will enhance resource management for tech companies and empower users to make informed decisions about their AI consumption. It can guide the strategic allocation of AI workloads by leveraging spatial and temporal flexibilities, allowing for more equitable distribution of AI’s environmental impact. For instance, by relocating AI training and deployment to regions with more abundant water resources, it is possible to balance the water footprint across various areas, thus preventing a disproportionate burden on regions already facing water scarcity and drought.
Innovating our way into cool spaces
In the last 20 years, we have witnessed significant advances in data center efficiency. These advancements have reduced energy consumption, improved cooling efficacy, implemented water recycling and conservation practices, and enhanced the overall performance and reliability of data centers. Despite these technological advancements, AI’s global annual water consumption is still projected to reach between 4.2 billion and 6.6 billion cubic meters by 2027 (4 to 6 times the annual water usage of a country like Denmark).
cee.illinois.edu
This is particularly concerning in the context of global freshwater scarcity and the broader challenges posed by climate change.
Geographic location and resource availability are key considerations when designing environmentally sustainable data centers, but the optimization process is further complicated by a changing climate. As climate change intensifies weather extremes, making heat waves and droughts more frequent, data centers are increasingly at risk and are having to consider the business continuity implications of water availability.
As the race for resources increases, many tech companies are strategically positioning their data centers in developing regions, such as Latin America and arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa where real estate and energy are cheaper. This practice further strains local water resources, amplifying the water crisis and contributing to geographic inequality.
Setting environmental guardrails for AI
Addressing the water challenges associated with AI will require significant changes, including:
• Increased Transparency: Reporting the spatial and temporal water usage of AI workloads, makes It easier to better identify opportunities for efficiency and manage resources more effectively. Effective management relies on accurate measurement.
• Responsible AI Use: Balancing carbon and water efficiencies and adopting comprehensive approaches to sustainable AI will help mini-
mize the technology’s environmental impact.
• Technological Innovation: Improving hardware and software, and adopting cutting-edge cooling technologies, can significantly reduce water consumption.
• Climate Change Awareness: Incorporating climate change considerations in data center design and operations may help with operational efficiencies, energy and water consumption, build infrastructure resilience, and meet sustainability commitments.
AI offers substantial potential for tackling critical water-related challenges, such as optimizing agricultural irrigation, improving wastewater treatment, and detecting harmful chemicals in drinking water. However, the full spectrum of risks, societal implications, and potential environmental impacts of AI remains largely unexplored. As this technology advances, it is crucial that we develop environmental safeguards while we address these uncertainties to ensure accountable development and deployment. This is not just the responsibility of tech companies, but that of our collective society as users of the technology. i
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Urban heating and cooling to play substantial role in future energy demand under climate change
By lois yoksouliAn
Existing global energy projections will underestimate the impact of climate change on urban heating and cooling systems by roughly 50% by 2099 if greenhouse gas emissions remain high, researchers report. This disparity could profoundly affect critical sustainable energy planning for the future.
Existing studies predominantly concentrate on chemical feedback loops, which are large-scale processes involving complex interactions between energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and the atmosphere. However, a research group led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign focuses on the often-overlooked physical interactions between urban infrastructure and the atmosphere that can contribute to local microclimates and, ultimately, global climate.
A new study led by civil and environmental engineering professor Lei Zhao emphasizes that smaller-scale city-level waste heat from residential and commercial property heating and cooling efforts can lead to big impacts on local climates and energy use. The study findings are published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
“The heat generated from heating and cooling systems is a substantial part of the total heat generated within urban areas,” Zhao said. “These systems generate a lot of heat
that is released into the atmosphere within cities, making them hotter and further increasing the demand for indoor cooling systems, which feeds even more heat into local climates.”
This process is part of what researchers call a positive physical feedback loop between building cooling-system use and the warming of local urban environments. The authors also note that rising temperatures under climate change could potentially decrease energy demand during the colder months, a negative
feedback loop that should be considered in any temperature and energy demand projections.
According to the study, less heating use would lead to less heat being released into the urban environment, inducing less urban warming than under the present climate.
“This process forms a negative physical feedback loop that may dampen the heating demand decrease,” Zhao said. “But it does not by any means cancel out the positive feedback loop effect. Instead, our
A new study by CEE at Illinois engineers found that urban heating and cooling will play a substantial role in future energy demand under climate change. Photo courtesy Tinou Bao
model suggests that it could polarize the seasonal electricity demand, which poses its own set of problems for which careful planning is needed.”
To include these overlooked physical contributions into the larger overall picture of climate change, the team used a hybrid modeling framework that combines dynamic Earth system modeling and machine learning to examine the global urban heating and cooling energy demand under urban climate change variability and uncertainties — including the spatial and temporal challenges posed by the fact that cities vary in income, infrastructure, population density, technology and temperature tolerance.
“I think the take-home message for this study is that energy projections that integrate the effects of positive and negative physical feedback loops are needed and will lay the groundwork for more comprehensive climate impact assessment,
science-based policymaking and coordination on climate-sensitive energy planning.”
Zhao’s team is already learning how variables and uncertainties like humidity, building materials and future climate-mitigating efforts will further factor into their models to improve energy-demand projections.
Zhao also is affiliated with the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the Gies College of Business at Illinois. The National Science Foundation and iSEE at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign supported this study. i
Professor Lei Zhao, left, and graduate student Xinchang ‘Cathy’ Li.
This graphic shows the climate-driven physical and chemical feedbacks between a warmer climate and urband heating and cooling energy use. Graphic by Michael Vincent and Lei Zhao
Researchers introduce programmable material to help heal broken bones
By lois yoksouliAn
Natural materials like bone, bird feathers and wood have an intelligent approach to physical stress distribution, despite their irregular architectures. However, the relationship between stress modulation and their structures has remained elusive.
A new study that integrates machine learning, optimization, 3D printing and stress experiments allowed engineers to gain insight into these natural wonders by developing a material that replicates the functionalities of human bone for orthopedic femur restoration.
Fractures of the femur, the long bone in the upper leg, are a widespread injury in humans and are prevalent among elderly individuals. The broken edges cause stress to concentrate at the crack tip, increasing the chances that the fracture will lengthen. Conventional methods of repairing a fractured femur typically involve surgical procedures to attach a metal plate around the fracture with screws, which may cause loosening, chronic pain and further injury.
The study, led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign civil and environmental engineering assistant professor Shelly Zhang and graduate student Yingqi Jia in collaboration with professor Ke Liu from Peking University, introduces a new approach to orthopedic repair that uses a fully controllable computational framework to produce a material that mimics bone.
The study findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.
“We started with materials database and used a virtual growth stimulator and machine learning al-
Gradute student Yingqi Jia, left, and professor Shelly Zhang used machine learning and 3D printing to fabricate a new bio-inspired material that may improve convential methods for healing broken bones.
Photo by Fred Zwicky.
gorithms to generate a virtual material, then learn the relationship between its structure and physical properties,” Zhang said. “What separates this work from past studies is that we took things a step further by developing a computational optimization algorithm to maximize both the architecture and stress distribution we can control.”
In the lab, Zhang’s team used 3D printing to fabricate a fullscale resin prototype of the new bioinspired material and attached it to a synthetic model of a fractured human femur.
“Having a tangible model allowed us to run real-world measurements, test its efficacy and confirm that it is possible to grow a synthetic material in a way analogous to how biological systems are built,” Zhang said. “We envision this work helping to build materials that will stimulate bone repair by providing optimized support and protection from external forces.”
Zhang said this technique can be applied to various biological implants wherever stress manipulation is needed. “The method itself is quite general and can be applied to different types of materials such like metals, polymers — virtually any type of material,” she said. “The key is the geometry, local architecture and the corresponding mechanical properties, making applications almost endless.”
The David C. Crawford Faculty Scholar Award from the U. of I. supported this research. i
Regional variability in PM2.5 mass vs. toxicity relationship to provide insight for air quality policy
By oliviA gruBisiCh
Current air quality policies aimed at reducing harmful effects of PM2.5 – particles in ambient air that are 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller – are driven by an assumption that the relationship between PM2.5 mass and its health effects is globally uniform. A new study led by CEE at Illinois associate professor Vishal Verma highlights the flaws in this assumption by demonstrating how intrinsic toxicity of PM2.5 varies regionally due to differences in chemical composition.
Historically, the epidemiological studies from which policymakers gather information are based on a model that explains PM2.5 toxicity as a linear function of mass. Most of these studies, however, only focus on samples from certain geographic regions, leaving questions as to whether or not applying their conclusions globally results in the most effective efforts to reduce PM2.5 health impacts.
To further investigate the relationship between mass and toxicity, Verma’s group collaborated with researchers from 6 different institutions to collect a large number of PM2.5 samples from 14 different sites across 4 different continents (North and South America, Europe, and Asia). They then evaluated the toxic-
ity of these samples using 5 different metrics.
Their results showed that relationships between mass and toxicity varied among sample sites from different geographic regions. For example, places like India, where PM2.5 mass concentrations are high, had much lower intrinsic PM2.5 toxicity than places, like the Midwestern United States, with lower PM2.5 mass concentration. Regional differences imply that chemical composition, which drives intrinsic toxicity and is impacted by geographic factors, plays an important role in determining the toxicity of PM2.5 alongside mass.
Consequently, the use of globally generalized models to evaluate health risks results in unrealistic estimations of morbidity and mortality due to PM2.5 This is especially true in places like China and India, where their high PM2.5 mass concentrations would predict much higher levels of PM2.5 health impacts based on the linear models. As a result, policy measures aimed at reducingPM2.5 mass in these areas will not result in significant risk reduction.
To help change this trend, the study emphasizes the need for developing region-specific curves to better consider varying associations
between mass and toxicity across the globe. By addressing up front the differences in chemical composition that can impact toxicity, Verma and his team hope to prompt further research towards improving regional understanding of intrinsic PM2.5 toxicity and the effectiveness of air quality policy worldwide.
The full paper, “Inter-continental variability in the relationship of oxidative potential and cytotoxicity with PM2.5 mass,” was published in Nature Communications and was selected as a Nature Communication Editor’s Highlight, an honor bestowed to the 50 best papers recently published in a given field of study.
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation. i
Vishal Verma
National University Rail Center of Excellence opening ceremony held in Newmark Lab
On May 29, 2024, a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory marked the official opening of the National University Rail Center of Excellence (NURail CoE), a nine-university rail research and education consortium led by CEE at Illinois’ Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC).
NURail is the first ever academic rail research and education center. It is supported by the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) with the help of new funding in President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $15-million center will advance research solutions to enhance the safety, efficiency, reliability and sustainability of both passenger and freight rail transport.
CEE Professor and George Krambles Director of RailTEC Chris Barkan will serve as Director of NURail.
“A lot of people are saying thank you today, which is appropriate because a lot of work has been going on for years to bring us this day,” Barkan said of the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
He continued by thanking the partners and collaborators within academia, government, and industry that made NURail CoE a possibility. And “most of all” Barkan thanked the students in attendance, acknowledging them as one of the primary motivation behind bringing NURail CoE
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to life.
“You are the reason why we do this,” Barkan said.
Attending the event were several federal, state and university dignitaries, including FRA Administrator Amit Bose, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois Representative Nikki Budzinski, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Provost John Coleman and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation Susan Martinis.
Senator Durbin, Representative Budzinzki and Administrator Bose each gave remarks at the ceremony, with Senator Durbin reflecting on his family’s personal ties to the rail industry in Illinois and Representative Budzinski sharing her pride as a University of Illinois alumna to see her alma mater serve as NURail CoE’s point institution.
“Students and faculty at the University of Illinois lead the way in 21st
century research and technology every day – and it’s only fitting we tap their expertise to help bring our rail system into the future,” Budzinski said.
With RailTEC at the helm, the nine-university consortium will also include the University of Illinois Chicago, University of Delaware, Kansas State University, Michigan Technological University, Morgan State University, Rutgers University, University of Texas at Austin, and Tuskegee University.
“We are excited to celebrate this important milestone in the advancement of rail transportation,” Barkan said. “My partners and I are incredibly grateful for the support that the NURail CoE has received from the USDOT Federal Railroad Administration as well as the Illinois Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Transportation, New Jersey Transit and our many rail sector sponsors and supporters. We look forward to continuing our work together and are eager to get started.” i
Top:: Left to right: CEE professor J. Riley Edwards, IDOT Secretary Omer Osman, FRA Aministrator Amit Bose, Representative Nikki Budzinski, Senator Dick Durbin, NURail CoE Director Chris Barkan, University of Illinois ProvostJohn Coleman, University of Illinois Chicago Urban Transporation Center Director P.S. Siraj, and University of Illinois Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Susan Martinis. Middle: Group photo of students and dignitaries in attendance at the NURail CoE kickoff event. Bottom left: Representative Nikki Budzinski signs the commemorative rail honoring NURail CoE’s official opening. Bottom, right: Chris Barkan thanks federal and state dignitaries in attendance for their support of NURail CoE’s development and launch. Photos courtesy Heather Coit
gathered for
during
CEE at Illinois hosts Engineering Mechanics Institute 2024 Conference
By oliviA gruBisiCh
Through the leadership of professors Paolo Gardoni and Arif Masud, CEE at Illinois served as host institution for the 2024 Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference and Probabilistic Mechanics and Reliability Conference (EMI/PMC). The joint conference brought together the brightest minds in engineering and probabilistic mechanics for three days of presentations and discussion
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of cutting-edge research from across the globe.
The conference, which ran May 28-31, took place in downtown Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton. Instead of hosting on the U of I campus, Gardoni and Masud chose Chicago as an alternate location, as it offered a more centralized location for attendees traveling domestically and internationally.
“The conference had over 1,000 registered participants from around the world including some of the most established and renowned scholars, rising stars, and very talented students,” Gardoni said, “The participation was record high.”
Headlining the three days of programming were five keynote addresses delivered by University of Colorado Boulder professor Ross
Attendees
dinner
the conference at the Palmer House in Chicago, IL
Corotis, MIT professor Oral Buyukozturk, Stanford University professor Anne S. Kiremidjian, Northwestern University professor Julio Ottino, and Rice University professor Jamie Padgett. The joint conference also featured the presentation of the EMI annual awards, recognizing the outstanding achievements of the top students and scholars in the field of engineering mechanics.
Unique to this year’s conference was the Recruitment and Company Showcase. An idea implemented by Gardoni and Masud, this event invited companies, recruiters, and other attendees to set up booths exhibiting their products and services. Its inclusion in the program proved successful not only in connecting industry professionals, but more importantly creating networking opportunities for bright, up-and-coming students.
Overall, the CEE at Illinois-led EMI/
PMC provided an exciting platform for the exchange of ideas among engineering mechanics professionals.
“The event also showed how faculty, students, and staff at Illinois can work together to do something remarkable.”
significant exposure to the pioneering research taking place across CEE at Illinois, The Grainger College of Engineering (who also served as a conference sponsor), and the entire university. This particular outcome is a point of pride for Gardoni, whose goals for the conference included not only advancing the mission of EMI, but bringing recognition to the innovative and collaborative spirit of engineering at Illinois.
“The conference was a great success, something current and future generations of faculty will always remember,” Gardoni said. “The event also showed how faculty, students, and staff at Illinois can work together to do something remarkable.” i
The conference ran smoothly, thanks to the efforts and support of CEE faculty, students, and staff, and brought
Left: CEE professors Arif Masud, left, and Paolo Gardoni, who led the conference’s organization on behalf of CEE at Illinois. Right, above: Arif Masud addresses the conference.
Right, below: Paolo Gardoni delivers remarks during dinner at the conference.
Garcia awarded Doctor Honoris Causa, honored with ceremony at National University of Cordoba
M.T. Geoffrey Yeh Endowed Professor of Civil Engineering Marcelo Garcia received a Doctor Honoris Causa from the National University of Cordoba (UNC) with a ceremony held at the historic university on May 20, 2024.
The Honoris Causa is the highest academic honor awarded by the university and was conferred to Garcia in recognition of “his outstanding academic, teaching and scientific career and for his commitment to the transfer of technology in society.”
The event was attended by several high-ranking university officials, including UNC Rector Jhon Boretto, UNC Vice-Rector Mariela Marchisio, UNC Dean of Engineering and Science Pablo Recabarren and UNC Vice-Dean of Engineering and Science Magali Carro Perez. Also present was Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services of Cordoba Province and CEE alumnus Fabian Lopez (MS
94 PhD 97).
The ceremony began with remarks by Recabarren, noting the deservedness of Garcia’s award and the contributions he has made to advance the fields of hydrology and water engineering. Lopez followed to give testimony to Garcia’s legacy as an educator and fellow Argentinian, recalling his own experience as Garcia’s student and lauding Garcia’s continued commitment to the scientific and public development of their home country.
dance, as well as the success they’ve had in their own careers, provided just a small snapshot of the positive impact Garcia’s mentorship has had on so many students.
Three other of Garcia’s former students were additionally present in support of their teacher: Instituto Balseiro Director Mariano Cantero (MS 02, PhD 07), University of Chile, Santiago Professor Yarko Niño (MS 92, PhD 95), and UNC Professor Carlos Marcelo Garcia (PhD 06). Their atten-
To conclude the ceremony, Garcia delivered a keynote lecture entitled, “Fluvial Morphodynamics and Wetlands in Systems Influenced by the Dynamics of the Paraná River.” i
Scan here to read UNC’s official press release detailing Garcia’s honor:
Left to right: National University of Cordoba (UNC) Undersecretary Daniel Lagos, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services of Cordoba Province Fabian Lopez (MS 94, PhD 97), Honoree Marcelo Garcia, UNC Rector Jhon Boretto, UNC Vice-Rector Mariela Marchisio, UNC Dean of Engineering and Science Pablo Recabarren, and UNC Vice-Dean of Engineering and Science Magali Carro Perez.
Nguyen named Fulbright Scholar, Specialist; will study antimicrobial resistance in Southeast Asia
By oliviA gruBisiCh
CEE professor Helen Nguyen has been selected as a 2024-2025 Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Specialist. With these awards, she will spend six months studying antimicrobial resistance in Southeast Asia (SEA).
Increased use of antibiotics to aid human health, livestock and crop industries has resulted in a global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. In SEA, where climate change outcomes create ideal conditions for the growth of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, expanding knowledge of AMR’s environmental factors is especially important. Nguyen’s Fulbright research will address this developing issue by investigating where, when and whether AMR in the environment leads to human health impacts.
The project will take place in three phases across Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore. In addition to improving literacy on environmental facets of AMR, Nguyen’s scholarship
will help enhance research capacity of the universities she works with while abroad.
Though this isn’t Nguyen’s first selection as a Fulbright scholar (she was selected in 2016 for study in Israel), the honor remains profound. It affords her the opportunity to conduct research on the ground in places most vulnerable to the AMR-exacerbating impacts of climate change, something she believes is the key to creating a positive impact through science.
“I strongly believe that science should be focused on concrete solutions and working together with the people that these solutions intend to serve,” Nguyen says. “Fulbright gives me this valuable opportunity to go with my passion doing solution-driven science and contribute to building the education and research capacity in Southeast Asia.”
While in Vietnam, Nguyen will lead another project, “Farm2Vet:
Combatting AMR on the Farm Frontier.” Farm2Vet received first prize in the Trinity Challenge and will address data gaps in lower-income areas disproportionately affected by AMR. Both Farm2Vet and Nguyen’s Fulbright Research will begin in January 2025. After completion of her sixmonth stint as a Fulbright Scholar, Nguyen will return to Vietnam for an additional six weeks to complete her work as a Fulbright Specialist. i
Helen Nguyen
Getting involved in the Industry Partners Program
By EJ ignACio
I am privileged to serve as the Interim Associate Director of Industry Partnerships and Corporate Relations in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. After spending over ten years in industry before pursuing a PhD with CEE at Illinois, I am grateful to bridge the gap between industry and academia. My focus is managing the newly launched Industry Partners Program (IPP) that was designed to strengthen departmental ties to industry and corporate affiliates.
For a small program fee, industry partners receive numerous benefits that include increased access to students, faculty, and staff; complimentary priority space at the CEE Job Fair; facilitated access to student groups; increased visibility on campus; branding presence on our marketing platforms; and assistance organizing campus visits or student visits to offices/sites. These opportunities have
been previously requested by industry affiliates to provide more studentfacing engagement. The program fee is used to fund this student engagement by providing demonstrative educational tools for courses, transportation to/from office and site visits, personal protective equipment, catering for networking events, and much more.
For companies, IPP sponsorship provides very distinct advantages. For example, companies who are building or expanding their talent pools can benefit from the increased recruiting opportunities and private events that come with industry partnerships. For CEE students, these partnerships provide the opportunity to engage with companies and their representatives to gain tremendous insight into the industries that they’ll be joining.
For the department, the benefits of this program will be critical to maintaining our excellence by supplying our students with the best possibly opportunities during their time at the university and beyond.
Interested in joining or learning more?
Contact EJ Ignacio at eignaci2@illinois.edu or 217-300-7642.
EJ Ignacio
Growing & Giving Back
CEE alumnus Santiago Martinez on mentoring current students and looking to foster deeper connections through ARCO/ Murray’s position as a CEE industry partner
Santiago Martinez (MS 17) joined ARCO/Murray as an industrial division project manager in 2021, bringing with him extensive industry experience working in Chicago and his home country, Colombia. Soon after arriving, he joined ARCO/Murray’s Ambassador program as a representative for the University of Illinois, hoping to pay forward the mentorship he’s received on his own journey at U of I and beyond. Now, with ARCO/Murray a part of CEE at Illinois’ Industry Partners Program (IPP), he looks to build even stronger relationships with students and connect them to opportunities available at ARCO/Murray as they begin their professional careers.
Why did you choose to get involved with the ARCO/Murray Ambassador program?
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with great managers who each imparted knowledge that helped shape me into the professional I am today. Additionally, the transition from university to the professional world is challenging, and I have experienced those challenges firsthand, especially as an international student. I want to help talented students succeed and make the transition smoother.
One of the principles I live by is, “Find a mentor and become a mentor.” At ARCO/Murray, I’m still learn-
ing from my own mentors, and as a U of I Ambassador for ARCO/Murray, I’m committed to mentoring CEE at Illinois students.
What sort of activities and events have you been a part of as ARCO’s Ambassador to U of I?
Since taking on this role as an Ambassador, we have become much more active in engaging with students. I just completed my third year participating, and since 2023, we have participated in over 24 events designed to increase the connection between ARCO/Murray and U of I. These include career fairs, presentations, and professional development. We also celebrate Women in Construction (WIC) Week by hosting events and panels, and have emphasized our commitment to diversity through working with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
I have also represented ARCO/ Murray at CEE at Illinois’ Young Engineers Division (YED) Mentorship Program, where I’ve had one-on-one sessions with nearly ten students to help prepare them for the career fair and increase their chances of securing a job in the construction industry.
What has been the best part about mentoring students from your alma mater?
The most rewarding part of mentoring is guiding someone toward achieving a goal they couldn’t reach on their own. I am a big believer that luck is, “when preparation meets opportunity.” Many people have done the hard work to get to a certain point, and sometimes they just need that final piece of advice or opportunity to succeed. ARCO/Murray wants to provide that guidance and see the result of those students becoming part of our team.
How has working with the IPP enhanced ARCO/Murray’s efforts to engage with CEE at Illinois students?
Through the Industry Partnership Program (IPP), we have created new strategies to engage with young talented students. For example, diversity is one of my main focuses as an Ambassador, and we’ve been able to invite women to participate in a Women in Construction event in 2024. We’ve also given class presentations and hosted workshops to help graduating students prepare for career fairs and navigate our recruitment process. Additionally, we’re currently working on expanding our summer Co-op Program to offer opportunities during the fall semester, with plans to launch in 2025.
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In what ways have you seen growth in the connection between CEE at Illinois students and ARCO/ Murray, through the Ambassador program and now with ARCO/Murray’s role in the IPP?
Since becoming an Ambassador and participating in career fairs, it has been great to see the steady increase in interest that ARCO/Murray has from students. Every year, more students from CEE at Illinois reach me in advance for more information about the company and our opportunities. That has been particularly noticeable among young women in construction, who have increased their participation in our activities. In ARCO, we believe in inclusion and are committed to making the construction sector an equal platform of opportunities for everyone.
One specific memory is of a student who started their journey with us as an intern and grew into one of the top mentees on the industrial team. I’m hopeful that their story will end with them being hired as a fulltime Project Manager on our team.
One final question: What is your best advice for young professionals navigating the engineering/construction industry?
Starting a professional career is never easy, but we have all been through it. It requires passion, determination and commitment. As an international student who came to U of I to pursue my dreams of becoming a Project Manager, I found ARCO/ Murray to be the place where I could grow and help other young professionals make that same transition.
There will always be opportunities out there, and while not everyone may be the perfect fit, each will help you build a foundation for future success. i
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Finding the perfect fit
Last spring, CEE senior Benidel Bakubile was hunting for an internship to cap off her junior year in the department. When a class presentation by IPP member Trotter & Associates caught her attention, she took to the CEE job fair to learn more about what they had to offer. The rest, is history.
Q: How did you first find out about Trotter & Associates?
I first found out about Trotter and Associates this past spring 2024 semester in my CEE 320: Construction Engineering Class. Scott Trotter (the owner) and Cody Hansen (project engineer) gave a presentation about the company relating to the services offered, the projects they do, and their internship program.
Q: Why did their presentation persuade you to visit their table at the CEE Spring Job Fair?
My primary interest in Civil Engineering is Water Resources and within that, I’m mainly interested in water distribution modeling and design. Trotter and Associates offer multiple services, one of which is Water Engi-
neering. They’ve done water master planning and modeling, distribution design, supply, and storage design, and various water treatment projects. And so, during the presentation, after hearing that, I made it my goal to visit their table at the job fair the following day.
Q: What was your experience like talking to Trotter at the CEE Spring Job Fair?
At the job fair, Trotter and Associates was the first company I spoke with. After giving my quick 30-second elevator speech, they asked me more about what I was interested in and why I was interested in their company. They also answered a couple of questions I had about the company and the typical day-to-day life in the office. Overall, the conversation was very informative, and both Scott Trotter and Cody Hansen were welcoming.
Q: Tell us about your internship experience this summer!
I interned at the Trotter and Associates St. Charles office (there are three total offices: St. Charles IL, Fox Lake IL, and Lake Geneva WI). Overall, my experience was very educational but also pretty fun. I came in with very little knowledge about the water industry, but I left with a pretty good foundation about the ins and outs of the field. I mainly worked on updating the Water Master Plan for the City of St. Charles. Through that, I learned about how water is distributed and treated. I was introduced to ArcGIS which is a geospatial software used to analyze geographic data. I also learned a lot about construction engineering, and it was pretty cool seeing how everything I learned in the CEE 320 class is utilized in the industry. My project managers, Chris Marschinke and Elijah Winkle, and other staff members were always open and available to answer all my questions. My internship experience was wonderful, and I’m forever grateful for the experiences and knowledge I gained. i
Left: Benidel smiles while working her summer internship with Trotter & Associates.
Building a Brighter Future: Celebrating the Young Engineers Division (YED) Scholarship Program
By: lAnCE M. lAngEr (Bs 15) AnD hArsh PAtEl (Bs 18, Ms 23)
As we navigate the 2024-2025 academic year, the UIUC Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association (CEEAA) Young Engineers Division (YED) reflects on the incredible success of its scholarship program. Since its inception, the YED Scholarship has been a crucial initiative, providing financial support to undergraduate students in the CEE Department who demonstrate both academic excellence and strong leadership within the CEE community. The YED Scholarship Program’s mission is simple but powerful: to give back to the next generation of engineers and foster a community of young professionals who are committed to ensuring a bright future for the industry.
A Commitment to Supporting Future Engineers
The YED Scholarship Program was created with the belief that investing in students’ education and professional development can have a lasting impact. The goal is to alleviate some of the financial burden students face, enabling them to fo -
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cus more fully on their academic and career ambitions.
In 2023, the YED was proud to award its first-ever scholarship to Megan Otto, a junior with a primary focus in Construction Management. Megan’s outstanding academic achievements, combined with her leadership in extracurricular activities such as the Off-Road Illini Baja SAE team, exemplified the type of well-rounded student the YED Scholarship was designed to support. Alongside these activities, Megan also works as a lab assistant in assistant professor Nishant Garg’s Research Group, where she contributes to important research on mortar cubes’ compressive strength testing, further sharpening her technical expertise in civil engineering.
For Megan, receiving the scholarship was a pivotal moment in her academic journey. It not only validated her hard work but also motivated her to continue striving for excellence. As Megan shared in her interview featured in the Winter 2023 Magazine, the scholarship reassured her that her efforts in academics, leadership, and community involvement were being recognized and appreciated.
This year, the YED Scholarship was awarded to Livia Bezati, a junior with a primary in structural and transportation engineering. Livia serves as Vice President of the UIUC ASCE student chapter, has actively participated in the ASCE Regional Conference in Chicago, and is a dedicated member of both the Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe teams. In addition, she is a member of the Society of Women Engineers. Livia’s passion for innovation extends into her research work, where she serves as a research assistant, helping conduct experiments on different concrete compositions using a 3D concrete printer.
Both Megan and Livia’s stories serve as a reminder of how financial support can unlock opportunities, allowing recipients to pursue their passions without the added stress of financial strain.
The Financial Growth of the YED Scholarship
Since officially launching the scholarship campaign in December, the YED has seen strong support from young professionals (YPs) across the CEE alumni network. This unique aspect of the scholarship program—
being funded entirely by YPs—has helped foster a sense of community and shared purpose among recent graduates and young engineers. The YED’s success is a testament to the power of collective action and the generosity of those who understand the importance of giving back to the academic institutions that shaped their own careers.
Our fundraising efforts have been bolstered by numerous donations, and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made. With your help, we’ve managed to raise over $3,000 to date! However, to sustain the scholarship on an annual basis, we still need your help. Every contribution, no matter the size, compounds to make a positive impact on the lives of CEE students. These scholarships enable students to focus on excelling in their studies and extracurricular activities, helping them to reach their full po -
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tential as future civil/environmental engineers.
Vision for the Future: Building a Lasting Legacy
The YED Scholarship Program is not just about providing short-term financial aid—it’s about building a legacy of giving and creating opportunities for future generations of engineers. As we look ahead, the vision is to grow the scholarship fund to ensure that it can be awarded annually, consistently supporting the brightest and most deserving students in the CEE Department.
Moving forward, we are focused on reaching our fundraising goals to ensure the continued success of the YED Scholarship Program and its ability to support deserving students. We believe that, through the collective efforts of our YP community, we can realize this vision and
maintain the momentum we’ve built.
Join Us in Shaping the Future: Your Support Matters
To all our alumni, young professionals, and friends of the CEE Department, we ask for your continued support. Your generosity has already helped us make a significant impact, and with your help, we can continue this important work. If you are interested in contributing to the YED Scholarship Fund, please visit https:// cee.illinois.edu/give.
Together, we can continue to inspire, support, and shape the future of civil and environmental engineering at UIUC. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed—you are making a difference in the lives of our students and helping to create a brighter future for all. i
2024 YED Scholarship recipient Livia Bezati at a steel brige competition.
2023 YED Scholarship recipient Megan Otto.
CEE Alumni Association honors
Distinguished Faculty 2024
The CEEAA Alumni Association (CEEAA) Distinguished Faculty Award recognizes faculty who have made outstanding contributions to the department, the education of our students, and the pursuit of knowledge and betterment of society through research. The award is conferred by the CEEAA Board of Directors, and celebrated with an annual luncheon held in conjunction with the CEEAA’s fall board meeting. This year, the CEEAA proudly honored Robert Dodds, Pete Lenzini and Stanely Paul. Dodds was unable to attend the luncheon.
Left: Pete Lenzini addresses the attendees after receiving his awards.
Photo by Jim Phillips
Robert H. Dodds Jr. (MS 75, PhD 78)
Pete Lenzini (MS 71)
Stanley L. Paul (BS 55, MS 56, PhD 63)
Right: Left to right, Stan Paul, daughter Tammy and guests Len and Linda Lopez at the luncheon.
Photo by Jim Phillips
Imad Al-Qadi, Illinois Center for Transportation Director and CEE Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, received the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Executive Officer Distinguished Leadership Award. The award recognizes outstanding academic leadership and vision by an executive officer within a college or campus unit. Al-Qadi received the award from University of Illinois Provost John Coleman during a reception on May 14, 2024.
CEE Department Head Ana Barros has been named to the PNAS Nexus Editorial Board. As a member of the Board of Reviewing Editors, Barros will contribute her expertise to the journals’ expanding breadth of research coverage. PNAS Nexus is an open access scientific journal published by the National Academy of Science in partnership with Oxford University Press that focuses on the publication of high-quality, impactful research with broad, interdisciplinary appeal. Barros’ appointment to the Editorial Board will run through June 30, 2027.
Professor Nora El-Gohary has been appointed Co-Editor-in-Chief of the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. As expressed in ASCE’s announcement, El-Gohary brings a distinguished record of scholarship and dedicated service within the field of computing in civil engineering. She is recognized for her expertise in data analytics and artificial intelligence.
Ph.D. student Shoaib Goraya, a student of Professor Arif Masud, has been selected to represent the University of Illinois in the 2025 Schmidt Science Fellows national competition. PhD students nominated to apply for Schmidt Science Fellowships represent the brightest emerging minds in natural sciences, engineering, mathematics and computing.
Associate Professor Megan Konar won the 2024 AGU James B. Macelwane Medal in recognition of her significant contributions to Earth and space science. “I am honored and humbled to receive the Macelwane Medal.” Konar said. “I share this award with all of my wonderful students, colleagues, and collaborators over
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New Faculty
Assistant Professor Ran Mei (MS 15, PhD 20) joined the faculty in November 2024. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from CEE at Illinois, and additionally earned a B.S. in Energy and Resources Engineering at Peking University. Since completing his PhD, Mei has been a postdoctoral scholar in Japan, supported by a competitive JSPS postdoc fellowship. His expertise lies at the forefront of genomics in environmental biotechnology. He received a new investigator award from the Joint Genome Institute of the US Department of Energy and a highly competitive award for Best Doctoral Thesis from The Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP). Mei’s expertise in microbial processes and systems will be a welcome addition to the Environmental Engineering and Science area in CEE.
Imad Al-Qadi
Megan Konar
Ran Mei
Ran Mei
Tessum receives award from NSF CAIG program
A new project led by CEE assistant professor Christopher Tessum will focus on improving efficiency of artificial intelligence (AI) used in air-pollution modeling. The project, funded through the NSF’s Collaborations in Artificial Intelligence and Geosciences (CAIG) program, was one of twenty-five projects selected as part of a $20 million investment encouraging AI in geoscience research.
CAIG supports the development of advanced AI methods for geosciences research, as well as associated educational and technical efforts to build capacity for adoption of AIdriven approaches by geoscientists. Projects selected for the new investment emphasize transdisciplinary research among geoscientists, computer scientists, mathematicians and others to drive transformative discoveries, innovations and solutions.
Tessum’s project will use machine learning to simplify components of current air-pollution models. Most geoscientific models are computationally intensive and therefore unusable for scientists without access to high-performance computing clusters. Simpler components will reduce the necessary computing power and provide wide-spread access to AI for geoscientists in all sectors, encouraging the use of AI models in geoscience research to expedite growth of knowledge and scientific breakthroughs. i 36 cee.illinois.edu
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the years. This award gives us a boost of confidence that we are doing high quality research on important societal questions. It inspires us to keep pushing the research forward.”
Ph.D. student Hossein Kabir has been awarded the S. P. Shah Fellowship from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Foundation. This prestigious fellowship supports Ph.D. students who are active members of the ACI and have a passionate interest in concrete materials. Kabir is a student of Assistant Professor Nishant Garg.
Ph.D. student Denissa Purba was selected as one of the AGU Community Science Fellows with Thriving Earth Exchange. As part of Thriving Earth Exchange, Purba will work with communities across the U.S., Mexico and South America to launch impactful community science projects. Purba is a Ph.D. candidate with Assistant Professor Eleftheria Kontou.
Assistant Professor Ann Sychterz received the 2024 Outstanding Young
Did you know?
If you are over 70½ years old, you can support CEE through a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA! You will pay zero tax on the distribution and positively impact our students. Contact Steve Hall for details at stevhall@illinois.edu or 217-300-7830.
Ann Sychterz
Engineering Award from the Structural Engineerings Association of Illinois (SEAOI). This award recognizes practicing structural engineers under the age of 35 who have made significant achievements in their fields as determined by their colleagues.
Assistant Professor X. Shelly Zhang has been selected as the recipient of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Director’s Fellowship Award, a selective award given to top performers in the DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) pool. As a recipient of the Director’s Fellowship, she receives an additional third year of funding to continue her DARPA research to create biomaterials with precisely programmed multi-modal responses.
Denissa Purba
CEE Professor Emeritus Alfredo Hua-Sing Ang (MS 57 PhD 59) passed away on October 14, 2024. He was 94 years old.
Ang grew up in Davao City on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, where he excelled in his mathematics and engineering classes. He went on to earn top marks as a student at Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, and his engineering prowess caught the attention of CEE at Illinois Professor Nathan Newmark. With Newmark’s gracious support and sponsorship, Ang and his wife Mae immigrated to Urbana in 1955, where Ang began graduate studies under Newmark’s tutelage at the University of Illinois.
In his doctoral studies, Ang took advantage of U of I’s advanced computing capabilities, using the Illiac I supercomputer to integrate probabilistic methods with computational algorithms for the safety analysis of engineering structures. His work resulted in more accurate and efficient reliability assessments, greatly improving upon existing methods standardized in the 1950s. Because of the ground-breaking nature of his thesis, Ang was invited to remain with CEE as an Assistant Professor upon his graduation in 1959. He eventually became a full professor, overseeing over
60 doctoral recipients and publishing over 300 publications- including a 2-volume textbook used worldwide for courses in probabilistic methods.
He is survived by his wife, Mae; children Evelyn, Irene and James; brothers Robert and Henry; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Dr. Downey Brill died August 6, 2024 in Greenville, NC. He earned his undergraduate degree at Cornell University and his PhD in environmental engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He began his PhD as a student of CEE professor emeritus and former department head Jon C. Liebman, who left Johns Hopkins to join CEE at Illinois partway through Brill’s studies. The relationship they developed at Johns Hopkins would prove fruitful, as Brill joined Liebman on the CEE at Illinois faculty after completing his PhD. He worked his way up to the rank of professor in 1982. Brill left Illinois in 1988 to join NC State University as professor and department head of civil engineering. He served in this role until 2005 and held additional appointments as director of the Center for Transportation and the Environment and interim director of the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at NC State before his retirement in 2019.
CEE alumni, Burton A Lewis, passed away on Sunday, October 13, 2024. He was just 6 months away from celebrating his 100th birthday next spring. Born in Chicago, Lewis received a BS in Civil Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and an MS from CEE at Illinois in 1950. His university education was interrupted by service in the Army
Corps of Engineers during World War II, serving in the European theater of operations in France and Germany. Lewis was discharged from active service in 1946 as a Staff Sergeant but went on to serve in the Army Reserves until his retirement in 1967 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
He received the CEE Distinguished Alumni Award in 1983 and was always considered a great friend of CEE by all that knew him. Lewis received several other honors, including two awards of Merit from IIT and the 2023 Alumni Medal. In 2013 he received the Palmer Award from the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois honoring his distinguished career as acknowledged by his peers.
Alice L. Sandberg died March 31, 2024 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, IA. She was 103. Alice was the wife of CEE alumnus Harold Sandburg (BS 42), the former chairman of Alfred Benesch. Together, Harold and Alice established the Harold R. Sandburg Scholarship in Civil and Environmental Engineering, a gift that Alice continued to generously provide after Harold’s passing in 2020. She is survived by her children, Diane and Eric, 4 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Burton Lewis
Alfredo Ang
Clark wins U of I Lou Liay Spirit Award
David Clark (BS 77) received the University of Illinois 2024 Lou Liay Spirit Award from the University of Illinois Alumni Association. Established in 1997, the Lou Liay Spirit Award is presented to an alumni who has consistently demonstrated extraordinary spirit and pride in support of the University, the Alumni Association, and related organizations, exemplifying a positive image of their Alma Mater while inspiring loyalty and pride in their fellow alumni.
Clark is a staunch supporter of the University of Illinois and attends a variety of athletic events throughout the year. He holds season tickets for basketball and football, with 2024 marking the 48th consecutive year he has supported the Fighting Illini on the gridiron. In fact, he has never missed a home football game since he became a season ticket holder as a student in 1975; to keep his streak alive, he has flown home from Disneyland and rearranged family events. He
has been a member of the Division of Intercollegiate Association Fan Council, currently is a member of the Rebounders Club, and began his association with the Quarterback Club as a board member in 2010. Clark served 28 years as an engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) in District 4 (Peoria) and five years as the IDOT District Engineer for District 5 (Paris), which encompasses 11 counties in east central Illinois, including Champaign County and the U. of I. Clark retired from IDOT in 2004 and then became part owner of a consulting engineering firm. The company was sold in 2022, and Clark is currently employed by the City of Mattoon, Illinois, as public works director. He has participated with many campus engineering organizations and events, providing mentoring to students. Clark continues to recruit U. of I. graduates and promotes intern opportunities to students who are pursuing degrees in civil engineering. His financial support benefits the University of
Illinois Foundation, the I FUND, the Marching Illini, Orange Krush, and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The award is given by the University of Illinois Alumni Association on behalf of the University of Illinois. Clark received his award at the Homecoming Alumni Awards Gala on September 12, 2024 at Pear Tree Estate in Champaign, Ill.
CEE alumnus James Harris (MS 75, PhD 80) won the 2024 Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Award for Design from the American Society of Civil Engineers. The OPAL Awards annually recognize engineering professionals whose achievements set standards for outstanding careers worthy of admiration, inspiration and emulation in one of five
cee.illinois.edu
areas: construction, design, education, government and management. Harris has previously been named a CEE Distinguished Alumnus in 2009 and a Grainger College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus in 2010.
Khaled Hesham Hyari (Ph.D. 04) was named the President of Hashemite University, the largest university
Clark, left, with CEE Department Head Ana Barros at the Homecoming Alumni Awards Gala.
Jim Harris (MS 75, Ph.D. 80)
Kutska’s interview in the Illinois Alumni Magazine here!
in Jordan with over 30,000 students. Hyari has served as a professor of civil engineering at Hashemite University since the completion of Ph.D in 2004, for which he was advised by CEE professor Khaled El-Rayes. His appointment is in recognition of his excellence in research and academic teaching. His four-year term began in April 2024.
CEE alumna Mary Lou Kutska (BS 11) was featured in the spring edition of Illinois Alumni Magazine, where she detailed the rewarding projects she’s worked on in her career and how she works to encourage the next generation of women in STEM. Kutska, an engineer with Michael Baker International, received the 2023 CEE at Illinois Alumni Association Young Alumni Achievement Award.
Current CEE Ph.D. student Han Wang (MS 20) won the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) 2024 Stu-
dent Award. The ISG Student Awards recognize the top papers submitted by students in Pan-America between 2021-2024 for the 2024 GeoAmericas Conference. Wang is advised by Professor Erol Tutumleur.
John R. Wolosick (BS 78, MS 79) received the Deep Foundations Institute 2023 Distinguished Service Award. The highest award given by the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI), it recognizes individuals who have made exceptionally valuable contributions to the advancement of the deep foundations industry. Wolosick additionally received the 2024 ASCE/Geo-Institute Harry Schabel Jr. Award, an honor established in the memory of Harry Schnabel Jr.’s accomplishments in the field of earth retaining structures. The award encourages continued excellence and innovation by those in the earth retaining structures industry.
John Wolosick (BS 78, MS 79) with his Deep Foundations Institute 2023 Distinguished Service Award.
Mary Lou Kutska (BS 11). Photo courtesy Mary Rafferty
Read
Han Wang (MS 20), right, with IGS president Sam Allen at the IGS Student Award Recognition ceremony at GeoAmericas 2024.
SCENES from the GREEN
Thank to all of our alumni & friends who attended the CEEAA Annual Golf Outing at Ruffled Feathers Golf Club in Lemont, Ill.
Above , left to right: Richard Schneider, Lyle Hughart and Greg Carghill get ready to tee off. Below: Christine Daul, who won the longest put competition!
Left: Stephanie Coty in the zone.
Right: The winning group of the day, left to right: Lance Peterman, John Kos, Eric Wesel and Mike Zorn.
Above, left to right: Steve Arnold, Clay Patterson, Joseph Good and Kevin Kearney
Above, left to right: Tom McCray, Jimmy Roinson, Michael Mack and Mike Folta.
STUDENTS in ACTION
Each summer, many CEE students pursue internships to gain valuable industry connections and real-world experience. Here are a few snapshots of the work our students did this year:
Senior Jocely Pytel interned with Clark Construction in Baltimore, MD. She worked on quality control for the new Johns Hopkins student center.
Junior Kelsey Hayes worked as a transportation intern with Farnsworth Group, helping out with projects across central Illinois.
Graduate student Jesse Ekyana (BS 24) spent his summer as a bridge intern with Michael Baker International.
Junior Kamila Castillo interned with GE Vernova on the Onshore Winds Controls Team.
CEE Staff Highlight
Meet the Undergraduate Studies Team!
Becky Stillwell
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs
Becky joined the CEE staff in 2005, marking almost 20 years with the department! She works closely with CEE’s Associate Head & Director of Undergraduate Programs, Academic Advisor and Program Coordinator to oversee three major facets of CEE’s undergraduate programs: advising, recruitment and scholarships. She helps students with scheduling, degree requirements, study abroad, and enjoys being someone in the department the students feel they can come to for support. She additionally attends new student recruitment events throughout the year, manages internal scholarships for all undergraduate students, and plans the department Awards Convocation event every spring. Some of Becky’s favorite hobbies are refurbishing furniture, photography and reading. She and her family are also sports enthusiasts, so be sure to say “I-L-L” when you see her sporting the orange and blue at the next Illini game!
Greg Coughlin
Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Greg started with CEE in January 2016. As the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, he is primarily responsible for coordinating the department’s class schedule each semester. He additionally coordinates final exam schedules, orders textbooks and reserves classroom spaces for CEE’s courses. He also curates the list of classroom teaching assistants (TAs) and helps them register for TA training prior to the start of the semester. When he’s off the clock, Greg describes himself as a serial hobbyist and is always looking for a new project to start (although by his own admission, they don’t always get completed). He’s picked up skills like learning musical instruments, knitting and woodworking, just to name a few!
Pascal Youakim Academic Advisor
Pascal joined CEE in March 2024. As an academic advisor, he helps undergraduate students navigate their degrees and begin planning for their futures beyond CEE. He does this through meeting with students to give personalized advice on course planning, internships and research opportunities. He also helps students navigate University policies and any academic challenges they may face, while pointing them to appropriate resources at their disposal. When Pascal is not helping out CEE students, you can probably find him enjoying board games with friends (Spirit Island, anyone?) or occasionally playing double bass with the Danville Symphony Orchestra.
A PIECE OF HISTORY: 1972 FACULTY PHOTO
CEE extends a gracious thank you to CEE Faculty Affiliate and Mechanical Science and Engineering Professor Emeritus Jim Phillips, who provided us with this photo of the 1972 CEE faculty. When CEE Professor Emeritus Stanley Paul forwarded the picture to Jim, the names of the 63 faculty members were not included. A search of the CEE archives revealed a typewritten list that matched the photo, but only provided the first initials and last names of the faculty picutred. With the help of Stanley Paul and his longtime CEE colleague Leonard Lopez, as well as CEE Professors Emeritus Marshall Thompson, Vern Snoeyink and David Pecknold, Jim collected the first names of all 63 professors and displayed them with coordinating numbers. How many legendary CEE professors can you find?
