Robert Traver is Recipient of 2023 Outstanding Research and Innovation Award |
The American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) is proud to announce Dr. Robert G. Traver, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE as the recipient of the AAWRE 2023 Outstanding Research & Innovation Award for his outstanding body of work and indelible contributions in advancing the scientific basis for resilient stormwater green infrastructure practices.
A renowned expert in urban stormwater, Dr. Traver has been a member of the Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Program at Villanova since 1988. He currently serves as Director of both the Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems, and the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership.
While at Villanova Dr. Traver has conducted research on topics that include modeling of stream hydraulics, urban hydrology, water quality, and measures to mitigate stormwater effects of urbanization, and now climate change. He has been the main force in creating a Stormwater Green Infrastructure Demonstration and Research Park on the Villanova Campus, and founded the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership to enable continuing long-term stormwater research. Many highly cited publications have resulted from the faculty and students through this initiative. Dr. Traver believes that research supports and enhances the undergraduate and graduate educational experience. He teaches graduate courses in hydrology, hydraulics, urban storm water management, and undergraduate courses in all facets of water resources.
Dr. Traver is a registered professional engineer, a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE), and he served as AAWRE President in 2012-2013. In 2007, he received the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the Commanding General of the Unites States Corps of Engineers for his work on ASCE’s External Review Panel (ERP) of the Corps investigation of Hurricane Katrina and in 2014 was honored as the ASCE William H. Wisley American Civil Engineer Award “recognized for his leadership of ASCE’s Task Committee on Flood Safety Policies and Practices and editor of the Committee’s report, Flood Risk Management: Call for a National Strategy.” He was a committee member of the National Research Council Committee that authored “Urban Stormwater Management in the United States” (2009). He continues to serve the profession as an associate editor of the ASCE Journal Sustainable Water in the Build Environment which he helped to create. He was awarded the EWRI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
The AAWRE Outstanding Research & Innovation Award was established in 2018 to recognize excellence in significant academic contributions in one or more of the following: impact of the research on society and academe in the disciplines of water resources engineering; national and international recognition; and scholarships. Dr. Traver is only the fifth recipient to receive the award.
Dr. Traver: "Thank you AAWRE President Boulos, the Trustees and the Academy. I accept this honor along with my colleagues at Villanova, our many current and past students, and our research partners who believe and support our resilient green infrastructure research. It is special to be recognized by the American Academy of Water Resources as that we both share the same goal - “to improve the practice, elevate the standards, and advance the profession of water resources engineering for the benefit of the public.” The water resource profession is facing increasing challenges to the public health, and the need for the Academy and its Diplomates has never been stronger. Again, thanks to the Academy for this award."
>To send a congratulatory note to Rob
