PROGRAM AREAS
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES a reassuring voice for many. She has The Environmental and Water Resources in-person and hands-on educational given hundreds of interviews over the (EWR) Program continues to be considered experiences in the era of social distancing. past months to inform the many different one of the most highly respected graduate EWR faculty received a number discussions about this disease. Her efforts, programs in environmental and water of awards in recognition of their work this and those of colleagues both in the US resources engineering in the United States. past year. Landon Marston was recently and elsewhere, have clearly indicated the The interdisciplinary work conducted by named a New Innovator in Food and role of airborne exposures in the spread of EWR faculty, students, and staff is highly Agricultural Research by the Foundation impactful and widely for Food and used by the global Agriculture community. Research (FFAR). This This award provides year was a year of funding for early transition for EWR. career scientists to Landon Marston has conduct “audacious” joined us as a new research in the Assistant Professor. area of food and Landon , whose agriculture research. research specializes From the Virginia in examining the Tech College drivers of water of Engineering, scarcity and Gabriel Issacmandegradation across Van Wertz received multiple scales, had one of the 2020 VT previously been on COE Outstanding the faculty at Kansas New Professor State University after Awards and Paolo completing his Ph.D. Scardina was at the University recognized with the of Illinois Urbana2020 Certificate Champaign. The of Teaching Connor Brown and Ayella Maile-Moskowitz are samplng sewage on campus. You can read more about the year 2020 also saw Excellence. And, sampling on page 14. the departures of Clair White was Randy Dymond, who recognized with COVID-19 and have illustrated the utility retired, and Jason He, the Blackwood who transitioned to new position at his alma of masks in reducing these exposures. On Award for Exemplary Faculty Service a more local level, Amy Pruden and Peter mater Washington University in St. Louis. from the Virginia Tech Program in Real Vikesland, have led efforts to detect signals EWR faculty have responded Estate. Within CEE itself, in recognition of COVID-19 in sewage samples collected broadly in response to the COVID-19 of his longstanding educational efforts, across the Blacksburg campus, while Paolo pandemic. With her interdisciplinary Bill Knocke was recognized with the G.V. Scardina made numerous upgrades to the background in air pollution and airborne Loganathan award. Former EWR staff Fluid Mechanics and Water Resources infectious diseases, Linsey Marr has been member Barbara Angellotti received the laboratories to make them useable for Virginia Tech Staff Career Achievement Award.
Linsey Marr has been featured on several national news outlets for her expertise in airborne transmission of viruses in relation to the spread of Covid-19. The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, and many others have interviewed Marr for her input about mask effectiveness, social distancing, and air filtration and ventilation. 2020 VIA REPORT • 13
