Dr. David Watkins Joins HEC as 2008 Leo R. Beard Visiting Scholar

Dr. David Watkins

ALEXANDRIA, VA – January 18,2008. IWR’s Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) is pleased to welcome Dr. David Watkins as the Leo R. Beard Scholar for 2008. During his tenure at HEC in Davis, California, he will focus his work on the next generation of the Corps risk analysis procedures for flood damage reduction, in accordance with the National Research Council’s recommendations and the Corps “12 Actions for Change.”

Dr. Watkins’ work in risk analysis and decision making under uncertainty will contribute to development of the next generation of HEC’s Prescriptive Reservoir Model, a planning model which has been applied to several large river basins throughout the U.S. and internationally.

The Beard Fellowship allows prominent scholars to apply their knowledge to address today’s most critical hydrologic engineering problems. It honors Leo R. Beard, the founding Director of HEC and later Professor and Director of the Center for Research in Water Resources at the University of Texas. Dr. Watkins' research interests, which include application of decision theory and information technology to water resources problems characterized by uncertainty and multiple objectives, will contribute to IWR’s efforts to advance water resources planning and management processes in the U.S.

More about David W. Watkins, Jr., PhD

David W. Watkins, Jr., PhD, is Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. He recently completed a sabbatical leave at Columbia University’s International Research Institute for Climate and Society, where he focused on climate risk management for water resource systems.  He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management (American Society of Civil Engineers) and is actively involved in sponsored research, including Modeling and Analyzing the Use, Efficiency, Value, and Governance of Water in the Great Lakes Region (National Science Foundation).

More about the Leo R. Beard Visiting Scholar Program

For many years, on an ad hoc basis, HEC has invited prominent hydrologic and hydraulic professionals to take up residence at HEC in Davis, California, to foster scholarly exchange. This activity has now been more formally established, and such scholars in residence are referred to, as "Leo R. Beard Visiting Scholars." The program is named in honor of Mr. Beard because he was the founding Director of HEC, and he maintained strong ties to scholars in our technical field.

Learn more about:

• Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC)
• Leo R. Beard Visiting Scholar Program