Institute For Environmental Studies
Prospective Ph.D. Students
Please take a minute to view a video about the program.
Where we work ...
Click the placemarks to see pictures of our study sites.
An example of what we do ...
Learn about our new water level sensor systems which the Moline Conservation Club provided. These systems are solar-powered and are controlled via a 4G cell signal. This allows us to monitor water levels and the microclimate in the vicinity of the sensors on a 24-7 basis!
Installing the water level and microclimate sensors - https://spark.adobe.com/page/UgWqXaXJdMn1w/
Water level monitoring - 5 inches of rain over 24 hours - https://spark.adobe.com/page/o6kpFZ9yetjHs/
A few photos from the field ...
Latest News
Ph.D. Program Alumna featured in Voyage UT Magazine
August 2023. Learn more about what Dr. Michele Rehbein has been doing since graduating from the Enviroinmental Science Ph.D. Program in 2020. https://voyageutah.com/interview/check-out-michele-rehbeins-story/
Paper on Invasive Mosquitos in Western Illinois by Ph.D. Candidate
May 2023. Jason Hunt, an ES Ph.D. candidate, was the lead author on a new paper that will appear in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. Read the paper here: https://doi.org/10.2987/22-7105.
In the news ...
Listen to Prof. Viadero provide perspective on the proposed plan to divert water from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River basin on "Parched, Episode 3, The Boldest Plan of All," a podcast by Colorado Public Radio. Parched Episode 3.
November 2022. Prof. Viadero was interviewed by the St. Paul Pioneer Press regarding the ongoing impacts of low Mississippi River water levels on commerce and the environment.
A new paper - Assessing the Westward Diversion of Mississippi River Water to Refill Lake Powell and Mead
October 2022. Learn more about a recently revived proposal to divert water from the Mississippi River to help meet the water needs of the Lower Colorado River Basin. Read more at http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21177.44640.
Please also see the two-part companion web story:
- "Water Scarcity in the Lower Colorado River Basin" (https://express.adobe.com/page/JlGOIyWAR4XdM/) and
- "Getting Water from the Mississippi River to the Lower Colorado River Basin" (https://express.adobe.com/page/060SM8kdil7nM/).
In the news ...
October 2022. The St. Paul Pioneer Press covered work by Prof. Viadero, Samuel Babatunde, and Dave Thomas on the proposed diversion of water from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River Basin.
Recent Grad Wins Top Honor at 2022 Upper Mississippi River Conference
October 2022. Claire Helmke's work on the integration of bathymetric measurement into remediation planning at Carp Lake in Davenport, IA, took top honors at the 2022 Upper Mississippi River Conference Student Research Competition. Claire recently completed her MS in Biological Sciences.
A new paper published by IES authors in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
July 2022. Dr. Anshu Singh and Prof. Viadero published a new paper on trace metal contamination from an iron slag pile. You can read and download it at https://www.jswconline.org/content/77/4/365.
Dr. Anshu Singh recognized by the Quad City Engineering and Science Council
March 2022. Dr. Anshu Singh, a 2020 graduate of the Environmental Science Ph.D. program, was recently recognized by the QCESC as the 2022 Senior Scientist of the Year. Dr. Singh is the Chief of Environmental Services and Co-Founder of Riverside Global in Hampton, IL. Learn more at https://qcesc.org/awards-nominations-open-2-2/
Connect with WIU: