Educator. Engineer. Environmentalist.
I work at the nexus of geochemistry/water quality and global/community sustainability and education. My interests are interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, applied and seek to forge non-traditional university partnerships with local and international entities, especially those in the Caribbean. I currently hold a patent on “Functional composites formed from colloidal polymer particles with photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles” and received the 2014 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Engineering and Science Education from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP), partly for my ability to integrate research with K-12 and university education.
Details
Born & bred in Guyana, I am a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida (USF), Tampa. Currently, I direct a Collaborative National Research Traineeship, “Strong Coasts.” I served on the board of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors from 2014-2019, and as the President of that organization from 2018-2019. I am an Elates@Drexel Fellow in the 2019 cohort. I served on the governing council for the Caribbean Science Foundation & spent a sabbatical year with them as a visiting research scientist from 2012-2013. I received a bachelor’s in chemical engineering with a minor in theater from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then a master’s and doctorate in environmental engineering from Stanford University. As a Postdoc I taught at the National Technological University in Singapore on behalf of Stanford University.
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Skills
My mission
My research looks at water quality, water source protection & water provision for sustainable communities through a lens that focuses on the intersection of infrastructure for education and engineered systems.
Five pedagogical goals shape my teaching at all levels: 1) developing problem solving skills; 2) developing communication skills; 3) exposure to research; 4) thinking globally and holistically; and 5) engaging students in the learning experience with applied, & relevant projects that address their realities.
I am a strong believer in community engagement, especially through formal and informal education channels. I believe in creating hip learning materials and environments that contribute to better engagement of & decision making by people, especially those traditionally left out of this process.
