The 2011 cohort, the inaugural Water Institute Graduate Fellows cohort, focused on addressing the challenge of managing nutrient pollution and meeting EPA numeric nutrient criteria for Florida’s waters. The program brought together expertise across engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences to better understand nutrient dynamics, watershed processes, and the regulatory frameworks shaping water quality management.
Through this effort, the cohort examined the links between scientific knowledge, environmental processes, and policy decisions. Research activities spanned hydrology, nutrient cycling, ecological impacts, best management practices, and environmental governance, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of watershed management challenges in Florida.
Cohort Composition
- Environmental Engineering Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Mark Brown
Graduate Student: Grant Weinkam - Geological Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Mark Brenner
Graduate Student: Elliott Arnold - Soil, Ecosystem and Water Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Mark Clark
Graduate Student: Charlie Nealis - Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Matt Cohen; Dr. Tom Frazer
Graduate Student: Joelle Laing - Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Faculty: Dr. Wendy Graham
Graduate Student: Wesley Henson - Sociology, Criminology and Law
Faculty: Dr. Christine Overdevest
Funding: the cohort was supported through the Water Institute Graduate Fellows Program.
Outputs and Contributions: As the inaugural cohort, this group established the foundation for the Water Institute Graduate Fellows Program. Their work demonstrated the value of integrating research, education, and engagement to address complex water challenges and informed the design and implementation of future cohorts.