News

NASA DEVELOP projects focus on helping local, national, and international communities address their environmental concerns while utilizing NASA's Earth observing fleet of satellites. For the Spring 2025 term, NASA DEVELOP will operate at thirteen locations across the country at NASA Centers and other regional locations. This is a great opportunity for participants who are interested in practical applications of remote sensing and GIS, specifically in the field of Earth Science. Participants will work with NASA scientists, partner organizations, and science advisors to learn about the use of NASA Earth science data for use in water resources, disaster management, ecological conservation, and other applications to address environmental community concerns.

ENV Faculty Offers Advice on Honor’s Thesis Development

Welcome to Climate Change: Environmental and Human Dimensions, a new course designed to explore the critical intersections between environmental changes and human impacts. Taught by Dr. Sascha Usenko, an expert with decades of experience in atmospheric pollution research, this course will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of climate change's global effects. Together, we will delve into the science behind climate shifts and discuss meaningful solutions for a sustainable future.

Jay L. Banner, Ph.D., F. M. Bullard Professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences in the Jackson School of Geosciences  at the University of Texas at Austin, has been named the 2024 Cherry Award winner.  He will be teaching in Environmental Science January 2025.  Course information below.

The Department of Environmental Science celebrated Dr. Melinda Coogan's retirement Friday, May 3rd at the Baylor Club!  Congratulations, Dr. Coogan!!!  

*Ben Coogan (left) with his mother, Melinda

This year Environmental Science recognized Macy Williams, Amy Cox, and Ruth Deffenbaugh!  Congratulations!!!

3 ENV PhD students were hooded by their advisors during the Winter 2023 Commencement.

Every year dust from the Saharan desert is transported across the Atlantic Ocean to North America. These dust events can affect air quality, climate, weather and both land and water-based ecosystems.  Models suggest that the frequency and intensity of these Saharan dust events will increase in the future due to changes in land use and weather patterns.  This makes it critical to identify the occurrence and understand the impact of these dust events.

Dr. Rojo presented her work titled: Trophic transfer of human pharmaceuticals in fish from wastewater-impacted sites: a case study in the Uruguay River, South America, at the SETAC Latin-America 2023, organized in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Baylor was well-represented during the 2023 Waco Green Communities Conference by Keynote Speaker and Environmental Chemist Dr. Sascha Usenko, as well as undergraduate and graduate students during the poster presentation session on September 18.

Environmental Science Ph.D. students Micah Bowman, Jordan Jatko, and Mark Lueders from Dr. Ryan McManamay’s group spent 10-weeks interning at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in East Tennessee.

Dr. George Cobb will be chairing the U.S. EPA Science Advisory Committee for Chemicals from 12-15 September 2023 for 1,4 Dioxane Risk Evaluation.

Bryan Brooks, a distinguished professor of environmental science and public health at Baylor University, and editor in chief of Environmental Science & Technology Letters, has been named Laborde Endowed Chair for Sea Grant Research and Technology Transfer at Louisiana Sea Grant (LSG).

The Robert Foster Cherry Award Committee has chosen the three finalist for the 2024 Award.

Congratulations are in order for Marco Franco! We are so pleased to share the wonderful news of Marco’s award of the Fall 2021 Baylor Graduate School Outstanding Research Award for STEM! The Graduate Deans were very impressed with the quality and quantity of his publications, presentations, and involvement in research events.  Marco’s achievement will be published on the Baylor Graduate School website and a monetary gift of $400 for travel or research is also awarded to him.
 We are so proud of your commitment to research, Marco. Sic’em!

WACO, Texas (May 18, 2020) – Chemical compounds found in many consumer products could be major contributors to the onset of lipid-related diseases, such as obesity, in humans, according to a Baylor University study.

WACO, Texas (April 5, 2020) – Benjamin Ryan, Ph.D., clinical associate professor of environmental science at Baylor University, will be a keynote speaker at a global webinar presented by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Health Organization at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 7.

WACO, Texas (Dec. 4, 2019) — Hundreds of environmental health professionals across the nation report challenges and research needs in six areas — drinking water quality, wastewater management, healthy homes, food safety, public health pests and emerging issues such as disaster risk reduction and new facility types for body art and cannabis-infused products — in research from Baylor University and partners.

WACO, Texas (July 30, 2019) – As density in cities increase along with other global megatrends, researchers are working to address environment and health challenges in collaborative ways.

WACO, Texas (May 2, 2019) — A Baylor University study published in Science, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, found that recent hybridization of the Gulf killifish — a large minnow common in the heavily polluted Houston Ship Channel — has enabled the species to adapt rapidly to extreme pollution.

WACO, Texas (March 20, 2019) – Bryan W. Brooks, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Biomedical Studies in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences, received international recognition for his contributions and scholarly research on environmental sustainability.

WACO, Texas (Feb. 19, 2019) — Fossil fuel combustion is the main contributor to black carbon collected at five sites around the Arctic, which has implications for global warming, according to a study by an international group of scientists that included a team from Baylor University.

WACO, Texas (Nov. 15, 2018) – Bryan W. Brooks, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and director of Baylor University’s Environmental Health Science Program was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) for his outstanding leadership and science. Brooks received the award at the SETAC meeting in Sacramento, California on Sunday, Nov. 4.

WACO, Texas (Nov. 12, 2018) — In a follow-up to their groundbreaking study, Baylor researchers were able to reconstruct baleen whales’ lifetime stress response to whaling and other manmade and environmental factors spanning nearly 150 years.

WACO, Texas (July 8, 2016) — In a two-week exchange program, 22 students and four faculty members from Hong Kong traveled to Baylor University to interact with students and faculty from Baylor’s environmental science department and to learn about the culture and environment in Texas.

WACO, Texas (Sept. 22, 2015) – The department of environmental science in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences will host a lecture on the effects of nano-materials at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, in the Baylor Sciences Building Room A.108.

WACO, Texas (Aug. 5, 2015) — Counties with more beautiful weather and scenery have lower rates of membership and affiliation with religious organizations, according to Baylor researchers.

WACO, Texas (Jan. 27, 2015) – Sarah Guberman, a senior studying environmental science at Baylor University, has been awarded a fellowship through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowship Program.

WACO, Texas (Jan. 15, 2015)—Summoning Captain Planet and the Planeteers.

WACO, Texas (Sept. 5, 2014) – Baylor University’s Environmental Science Department kicked off the fall semester with its second annual seminar series, which began on Aug. 26 and will end on Dec. 2. From airborne steroids to marine ecosystems, the 15-week series offers a full spectrum of topics presented by a variety of esteemed guest speakers from around the nation.

WACO, Texas (April 10, 2014) — Bryan W. Brooks, Ph.D., professor of environmental science and biomedical studies in Baylor University's College of Arts & Sciences and director of the environmental science graduate program and the environmental health science program, will lead the research core on a four-year, $4.4 million project aimed at designing chemicals and materials that are less toxic to humans and the environment.

WACO, Texas (Feb. 14, 2014) - At the recent Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) meeting in Nashville, Baylor doctoral student Elias Oziolor and undergraduate student David Dreier won first place poster presentation awards for best Ph.D. and undergraduate research presentations, respectively.

WACO, Texas (Nov. 8, 2013) - George Cobb, Ph.D., professor and chair of the department of environmental science in Baylor's College of Arts & Sciences, has received the Herb Ward Exceptional Service Award from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC).

WACO, Texas (April 8, 2013)--The department of environmental science in Baylor University's College of Arts & Sciences is pleased to welcome Christopher Pepper, J.D., a shareholder of Winstead's Energy & Environmental Practice Group.

WACO, Texas (April 5, 2013) - As part of Scholars Week hosted by Baylor's Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Achievement (URSA) program, more than 120 students will present research they have conducted under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The event will take place April 8-11.

WACO, Texas (Dec. 20, 2012) --Baylor University researchers are one step closer to understanding the algae that causes a substantial number of fish deaths in more than 18 states.

WACO, Texas (Nov. 12, 2012) - Baylor University continues to gain recognition for its excellence in research as Lauren Kristofco, an environmental science graduate student, receives the 2012 Jeff Black Fellowship from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and EA Engineering. The award was presented on Nov. 11 at SETAC's 33rd Annual Meeting in Long Beach, Calif.

WACO, Texas (Sept. 28, 2012) - Baylor University welcomes John P. Giesy, Ph.D., a world-renowned ecological researcher, for a lecture hosted by the department of environmental science in the College of Arts & Sciences at Baylor University and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. The lecture will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in the Baylor Sciences Building, Room D.109.

WACO, Texas (Sept. 24, 2012) -- When people set out on a 2,180-mile trail, they may be looking for recreation, gorgeous landscapes or an escape from day-to-day existence. But the Appalachian Trail, which passes through 14 states from Georgia to Maine, also has become a modern-day pilgrimage rather than a mere journey through the woods.

WACO, Texas (Sept. 21, 2012) - The hustle and bustle of junior year brings on many challenges and new opportunities. For David Dreier, opportunities have flourished into great successes.

Rarely do high school students have a chance to take part in university research, gaining experience through interactive work with professors. Two specific Baylor University programs provide students with such an opportunity.

In recognition of Baylor University's recently enhanced sustainability initiatives, the university has received a Partners in Pride award from Keep Waco Beautiful for the university's new Go Green Recycling program. The award honors local individuals, businesses or schools that help make the community a cleaner, safer, healthier and more beautiful place to live and work.