The environmental, water resources, and coastal engineering (EWC) group holds an annual research symposium every spring semester. This student-organized symposium features research poster presentations by graduate students to highlight some of the current research conducted by this group, as well as a keynote speech by an invited speaker. The symposium provides an opportunity for students to gain experience in preparing and delivering presentations of their research.

In addition, the symposium enhances the visibility of the EWC group’s research program with the research and professional communities both locally and nationally. The symposium is held each spring (usually in March) to coincide with the graduate student recruiting schedule. As such, it provides potential applicants with an opportunity to evaluate our graduate program prior to graduate school selection. 
Below is a list of keynote speeches delivered at the annual symposium:

• 2020 Keynote Speech:
  A global perspective on wastewater as an agricultural resource: knowledge gaps
  Kara Nelson, University of California, Berkeley
• 2019 Keynote Speech:
  The past, present, and future or environmental protection: threats and opportunities
  Janet G. McCabe, Indiana University
• 2018 Keynote Speech:
  How to assess climate change impacts at the coastal land margin and produce transdisciplinary research outcomes
  Scott C. Hagen, Louisiana State University
• 2017 Keynote Speech:
  Overcoming Implementation Barriers for Nanotechnology in Drinking Water Treatment
  Paul Westerhoff, Arizona State University
• 2016 Keynote Speech:
  The Anthropocene Era and Energy for the Bottom Billion
  Tami C. Bond, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
• 2015 Keynote Speech:
  The shale gas revolution: green energy or a bridge to nowhere?
  Allen L. Robinson, Carnegie Mellon University
• 2014 Keynote Speech:
  The Washington D.C Lead Crisis and Its Aftermath
  Marc Edwards, Virginia Tech
• 2013 Keynote Speech:
  At the Confluence of Nutrients, Pharmaceuticals and Sustainability: Emerging Issues in Wastewater Management
  Nancy Love, University of Michigan
• 2012 Keynote Speech:
  How Much Energy Does Water Cost? How Much Water Does Energy Cost?
  Arpad Horvath, University of California, Berkeley
• 2011 Keynote Speech:
  Educating Engineers for the 21st Century: The Challenge of Sustainability
  Cliff Davidson, Syracuse University
• 2010 Keynote Speech:
  How Vegetation Alters Water Motion, and the Feedbacks to Environmental System Structure and Function
  Heidi Nepf, MIT
• 2009 Keynote Speech:
  Maria’s House
  Debbie Niemeier, University of California, Davis
• 2008 Keynote Speech:
  A Methodology for Water Census
  Rich Vogel, Tufts University
• 2007 Keynote Speech:
  Green Engineering: The “How” of Sustainability
  Julie Zimmerman, Yale University
• 2006 Keynote Speech:
  Solid Waste Processing and Disposal: Another Frontier in Environmental Management
  N. C. Vasuki, Delaware Solid Waste Authority
• 2005 Keynote Speech:
  Climate Variability and Engineering Design – An Opportunity to Rethink Infrastructure in the Context of Contemporary Challenges
  Ana Barros, Duke University
• 2004 Keynote Speech:
  Environmental Opportunities in the New Century
  Bill Homan, NC Environmental Management Commission
• 2003 Keynote Speech:
  William F. Hunt Jr., EPA
• 2002 Keynote Speech:
  Recycling, Electric Cars, and Diapers: Lessons for Improving Environmental Quality and Sustainability
  Lester Lave, Carnegie-Mellon University