Dr. Donna M. Rizzo is a Professor and Dorothean Chair in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Vermont. She received the M.S. in Civil Engineering from University of California, Irvine. Dr. Donna M Rizzo's research focuses on the development of new computational tools to improve the understanding of human-induced changes on natural systems and the way we make decisions about natural resources. Since joining UVM in 2002, she and her students have used a variety of these tools in collaboration with colleagues across five different UVM colleges to tackle multi-scale environmental problems, including: the evaluation of human impacts to surface waters and groundwater; lake cyanobacteria bloom research; disease risk transmission, precision agriculture, and most recently understanding human connection and incentivizing high quality communication within the Vermont Conversation Lab.
Ben A. Leshchinsky works as a Professor and Richardson Chair in Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management at Oregon State University. His research interests include slope stability analysis and landslide prediction; use of soil reinforcement in earth retention, subgrade improvement, and slope stability; unpaved road behavior; vegetation-soil interaction; and management of water-sediment transport. His investigative approach involves an array of tools, including numerical modeling, laboratory work, and full-scale field testing. His research is based on a variety of disciplines, broadly encompassing geotechnical engineering, water resources, agriculture, and forestry.
