Dr. Acharya’s current research combines basic and applied science from engineering, biology, ecology, and natural sciences for the restoration and construction of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Ecological/biological Engineering is a new emerging field of study integrating engineering technology with biology and ecology. Increasing rates of resource use and population growth have tended to magnify and complicate environmental problems that were already on the rise. A new range of sophisticated, powerful and newer techniques are required to solve these problems and that are often only possible by multi-disciplinary approaches. Dr. Acharya’s research attempts to combine fundamentals of life science with basic engineering to develop cutting edge tools to solve complex environmental problems. Dr. Acharya’s past research involved ecological and biological stoichiometry (the study of balance of energy and multiple chemical elements), aquatic food web, nutrient cycling, wastewater treatment systems, ecological modeling etc. (full bio)

Dr. Stone’s research interests are in the ecological engineering aspects of aquatic systems. His goal is to improve understanding of the influences of abiotic parameters on ecological processes. His specific interests include modeling, management, and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Stone has extensive experience with investigations of the impacts of climate change on water resources in the midwest and western United States. He also has expertise in the area of turbulence in natural streams and the influence of hydrodynamics on ecological processes. He is currently leading of involved with a number of projects related to endangered species and evaulation of changes in ecological services due to human activities.