As the anniversary of Vermont’s July 2023 and 2024 floods approach, University of Vermont researchers affiliated with the Gund Institute for Environment and Water Resources Institute are available to speak to the media.
Beverley Wemple: Beverley.Wemple@uvm.edu, 802-656-2074. Professor, Dept. of Geography and Geosciences; Director, Water Resources Institute; Gund Institute for Environment Fellow
Areas of expertise: How the Water Resources Institute is bringing together researchers to address water-related challenges, such as flooding, algal blooms, and improved forecasting and risk communication. Research expertise on flood damages to transportation infrastructure and cost-benefit trade offs of stormwater management on rural roads
Read more:
Gillian Galford: Gillian.Galford@uvm.edu, Research Associate Professor, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources; Director of the Climate Measurements Center of Excellence; Gund Institute for Environment Fellow
Areas of expertise: Impacts of climate change on flooding as outlined in the Vermont Climate Assessment
Read more:
Climate Measurements Center of Excellence
Paige Brochu: Paige.Brochu@uvm.edu, Director of the Spatial Analysis Lab; Research Assistant Professor, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources; Gund Institute for Environment Affiliate
Areas of expertise: Use of geospatial analyses to identify at-risk drinking water wells in collaboration with the Vermont Department of Health
Read more:
UVM News: UVM’s Spatial Analysis Lab Drone Team Plays Crucial Role in Response to Vermont Flooding
Kris Stepenuck: Kris.Stepenuck@uvm.edu, Associate Director and Extension Program Leader for Lake Champlain Sea Grant; Extension Associate Professor of Watershed Science, Policy and Education in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources; Gund Institute for Environment Affiliate (Not available July 3,9,11)
Areas of expertise: Watershed science, impacts of land use on water quality, participatory science, community engagement
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Kristen Underwood: Research Associate Professor in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department; Gund Institute for Environment Affiliate (Not available July 4,11)
To schedule an interview with Underwood, reach out to Gund Communications Director Brittany Patterson: brittany.patterson@uvm.edu
Areas of expertise: How recent flooding has changed river channels and floodplains in Vermont
Read more:
UVM News: Research for Vermont: Understanding and Mitigating Flood Risk
Vern Grubinger: Vernon.Grubinger@uvm.edu, Vegetable and berry specialist; Extension Professor; Gund Institute for Environment/OVPR Rapid Flood Research Grant Recipient
Areas of Expertise: Impact of flooding on vegetables and berries
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Rebecca Diehl: Rebecca.Diehl@uvm.edu, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography & Geosciences; Gund Institute for Environment/OVPR Rapid Flood Research Grant Recipient (Not available July 2,4,7)
Areas of expertise: Floodplain functioning for water quality and flood resiliency, flood inundation and erosion hazard assessment, flood modeling
Read more:
UVM News: Classifying Floodplains: An Innovative Approach to Flood Mitigation
UVM News: Research For Vermont: Understanding and Mitigating Flood Risk
Dana Rowangould: Dana.Rowangould@uvm.edu, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Transportation Research Center; Gund Institute for Environment Affiliate (Not available July 7-11)
Areas of expertise: How the July and December 2023 floods affected people’s mobility and daily lives as well as the factors that support people’s ability to recover. Rural transportation and unmet transportation needs.
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Taylor Ricketts: Taylor.Ricketts@uvm.edu, Director of the Gund Institute for Environment; Professor in the Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources (Not available July 3,4,11)
Areas of expertise: Economic value of wetlands and floodplains in reducing flood impacts
Read more:
UVM News: Vermont Flood Costs Could Exceed $5.2 Billion
UVM News: Floodplains Saved Middlebury $1.8M in Damage
Kelly Hamshaw: Kelly.Hamshaw@uvm.edu, 802-363-4352, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; Gund Institute for Environment/OVPR Rapid Flood Research Grant Recipient (Not available July 1)
Areas of expertise: Impacts of flooding on manufactured home communities and challenges they face during response and recovery efforts
Read more:
UVM News: UVM Joins Regional Collaboration to Study Climate Change Resilience for Mobile Homes
About the Gund: The Gund Institute for Environment mobilizes scholars and decision makers to understand and tackle critical environmental challenges. Driven by the belief that research should inspire action, we work in partnership with stakeholders from government, business and broader society.
We focus our research on five interconnected themes, each of which is essential to creating a sustainable future for people and the planet:
Climate solutions
Health and well-being
Sustainable agriculture
Resilient communities
Equity and justice
About the WRI: The Water Resources Institute facilitates an innovative network of programs, researchers, partners, facilities, and services to build a nationally recognized center at the forefront of interdisciplinary water-related research, innovation, education, and community outreach.
We strive to advance knowledge, develop innovative solutions, and drive collective actions towards a sustainable, just, and resilient water future.
