Please join CWEST for a Distinguished Seminar by Dr. Charles Driscoll on Wednesday October 25th, 11am-12pm in SEEC’s Sievers Room S228. Dr. Driscoll will give a talk titled Effects of Changing Climate on the Structure and Function of the Northern Forest: Long-Term Measurements and Experiments from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH, USA. An abstract will be provided soon.
Dr. Driscoll is an environmental biogeochemist at Syracuse University. He is a University Professor of Environmental Systems Engineering and Director of the Center for Environmental Systems Engineering. In his environmental chemistry and biogeochemistry research, he investigates the response of forest, wetland, freshwater and marine ecosystems to disturbances, such air pollution, land-disturbance, domestic and industrial waters, climate change and invasive species. His research largely involves field research, but also includes the application of environmental models. This work mostly involves environmental issues in the northeastern U.S. and is oriented toward providing information that is relevant to the effective management of natural resources. Dr. Driscoll has authored or co-authored more than 427 peer-reviewed articles. He is currently the principal investigator for the Hubbard Brooks Experimental Forest LTER. He has his BS in Civil Engineering from University of Maine, his MS in Environmental Engineering and his PhD in Environmental Engineering from Cornell University.
Q&A with Dr. Driscoll
Q: Where was the last field site you visited and what measurements were you collecting?
A: I ran a field class at HB this summer. I worked with students to make four separate measurements (experiments): 1) a dissolved organic carbon addition experiment to a stream draining experimental watersheds. We measured specific conductance and fluorescing dissolved organic matter; 2) using a dynamic flux chamber, we measured diurnal variations on soil carbon dioxide and methane concentrations and fluxes; 3) we used three separate approaches to measure stream discharge: a staff gauge reading coupled with an empirical stage-discharge relationship, stream cross sections and stream velocity and salt addition dilution measurements; and 4) temperature, dissolved oxygen and specific conductance at Mirror Lake.
Q: Who are you excited to visit at CU Boulder?
A: I am looking forward to the visit. I have lots of colleagues at CU boulder and I hope I can see some of them. Certainly Eve, and maybe Mike Gooseff and Diane McKnight, among others.
Q: What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you regarding career preparation?
A: This is a tough one. I completed my PhD quite a while ago. It is a different dynamic today than back them. I wish someone had given me some advice on what an academic and research career was like. It has worked out fine for me. But in retrospect I have participated in several different professional societies. It would have probably been better to focus on one or two and been more consistently engaged in these.
CWEST Distinguished Seminars are held in conjunction with the Hydrology and Water Resources weekly seminar series. Refreshments will be provided.