04/21/2026
The Engineering Center of Excellence (ECoE) College of Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series continues to grow in momentum, creating space for bold ideas, collaboration, and meaningful conversation across our research community.
The Spring 2026 sessions showcased the depth and impact of innovation happening across our college:
In March, Dr. Emad Habib presented โBeyond Modeling: Rethinking Flood Risk at the Intersection of Science, Technology, and Society,โ highlighting how his hydrological models inform real-world policy decisions on housing, business development, dredging, and flood mitigation projects. His talk emphasized how combining advanced modeling, data science, and community knowledge can shift flood risk management from prediction alone to a more adaptive, inclusive socio-hydrologic approach.
In April, Dr. Rafael Hernรกndez shared โFrom TNT to Biofuels and Beyond: A Journey through Catalysis, Collaboration, and Academic Evolution,โ tracing a 25-year research path from environmental remediation and TNT-contaminated water treatment to innovations in sustainable biofuels. His work spans wastewater-derived esterifiable lipids for biodiesel, catalytic advances, and bioprocessing coproducts, reflecting a career bridging cleanup technologies and sustainable energy solutions.
Dr. Emad Habib is an Endowed Chair and Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering and Executive Director of the Institute for Coastal & Water Research. Dr. Rafael Hernรกndez is Department Head of Chemical Engineering, Interim Head of Petroleum Engineering, Professor, Director of the Chemicals & Fuels Development Center and Associate Director of the Energy Institute of Louisiana. Both distinguished professors represent our universityโs โResearch for a Reason,โ translating discovery into impact for communities across the globe.
Thank you Dr. Habib and Dr. Hernandez for sharing such amazing
insight.
This ongoing speaker series continues to create space for meaningful dialogue, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and connection across our faculty.
More conversations โ More collaboration โ More impact. Stay tuned for whatโs next.
Ahmed Khattab William Chirdon
