REU Site: Sustainability and Resilience of Civil and Environmental Infrastructure in Rural Areas

Despite their significance, rural areas have historically been underrepresented in research and disproportionately underserved in terms of infrastructure and community development. Rural areas, characterized by low population density, agricultural-based economies, and localized transportation networks, present unique challenges and opportunities for civil and environmental engineering. However, the increasing challenges posed by climate change, including extreme weather events and shifting environmental dynamics, underscore the pressing need to prioritize sustainability and resilience initiatives within rural areas to ensure the long-term prosperity and well-being of these vital communities.

In this ten-week summer research program, students will work with faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to conduct research and will contribute new knowledge to improve our understanding of how best to address the challenges facing rural environments.  Through collaboration with industry partners, students will also be given opportunities to learn how infrastructure challenges are currently being addressed by the civil and environmental engineering industry. In addition, this program offers a series of communication development opportunities including preparation of a conference paper, informal presentations to their peers, formal poster presentations, and outreach to high school students.