Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research - CAESER

09/02/2026

💧 Today is 901 Day, and what better time to talk about something uniquely Memphis than the Memphis aquifer?

The University of Memphis' Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research (CAESER) is conducting a 5-year study of the Memphis aquifer to better understand this vital resource that provides high-quality drinking water to our region.

Join us for a community forum to learn about the research, ask questions, and discuss the future of one of Memphis' most important natural assets.

📅 September 15, 2026
⏰ 6:00-7:00 p.m.
📍 Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
3030 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38111

08/21/2026

Help us celebrate Dr. Dan Larsen! 🎉

We're proud to share that he has received the Dunavant University Professorship Award from the University of Memphis UofM College of Arts & Sciences.

This prestigious honor recognizes exceptional achievement in teaching, scholarship, service, and outreach. Dr. Larsen's passion for discovery, dedication to students, and commitment to serving our community exemplify the excellence this award celebrates.

Congratulations, Dr. Larsen! 👏

08/17/2026

Join us for a great conference!

It's time, folks! Conference registration is open for an amazing weekend in September. Visit https://eeintennessee.org/2026_Annual_Conference to learn more.
Follow us to see conference announcements and don't forget to nominate your favorite environmental educator or organization for the 2026 awards!

08/15/2026

Time to get our hands dirty! 🦾🌱

Saddam Hossain, CAESER’s Repository Logistics Coordinator, led a hands-on soil exploration that revealed clues about soil moisture, bulk density, and root growth, and a gazillion ticks, spiders, and centipedes. All in the search for the mysterious fragipan!

Wondering what a fragipan is? It's a naturally occurring, dense soil layer that restricts water movement and root growth. In West Tennessee, fragipans are believed to have formed over thousands of years from Ice Age wind-blown silts, continuing to influence how water and plants interact with the landscape today.

08/08/2026

☕ Coming to a coffee table near you soon!

We're proud to be featured in the Summer 2026 edition of Fondriest Environmental, Inc.'s Environmental Monitor magazine. The article, "Developing New Data-Informed Management of the Mississippi Embayment in Memphis," showcases the work of CAESER Research Assistant Professor Rodrigo Villalpando-Vizcaino and the research at CAESER that provides data and insights to support water resource management.

Want to read the story now? Check out the digital version: 🔗https://www.fondriest.com/pdf/EM_2026_Summer_Web.pdf =21

08/06/2026

🌱🔬 What an incredible day connecting science, sustainability, and education!

On July 17, K-12 teachers joined Dr. Jazaei at the University of Memphis' Herff College of Engineering for a hands-on workshop on Microplastics and Soil Health. Together, they explored how microplastics affect soil health and discovered creative STEM activities they can bring back to their classrooms.

Thank you to these passionate educators who are inspiring curiosity, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship in the next generation. 💚

07/27/2026

🌱🔬 It is always exciting to work with UT and TSU Extension Shelby County!

Their AgTech interns recently had the opportunity to visit Jacobs' Remote Sensing Lab at the University of Memphis Herff College of Engineering. A special thank you to Ainee Favorito, Joe Perry, Md Rafi Ur Rahman, Austin Huwer, Kevin M. Friedl, Jumana Tuffaha, and Lucas Poloni for demonstrating and explaining their research while providing an engaging tour of the lab.

The learning didn't stop there. CAESER's Dr. Mary Yaeger and Lucinda Scrivener met the interns at the Agricenter International to lead hands-on groundwater activities. Through interactive learning experiences, interns explored how science, technology, and data help us better understand and protect our natural resources.

We are proud to support opportunities that inspire and prepare the next generation of agricultural and environmental leaders! 💧🌎

07/16/2026

Proposals are due soon! 👇

07/15/2026

🌍 New Research Alert: Urban Water Resilience & Sustainability

How can urban water utilities better prepare for climate change, aging infrastructure, rapid urbanization, and increasing water scarcity?

CAESER graduate student Muhammad Fahim Aslam and CAESER affiliate faculty member Dr. Farhad Jazaei, along with their co-authors, recently published a review article in Water Resources Management examining how urban water utilities around the world are analyzing and managing risks to improve sustainability and resilience.

The study synthesizes findings from 62 peer-reviewed studies and explores challenges related to water demand, water quality, infrastructure, governance, and climate impacts.

📖 Read the open-access article:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11269-026-04835-5

🎉 Congratulations to Muhammad Fahim Aslam, Dr. Farhad Jazaei, and their co-authors on this important contribution to advancing resilient and sustainable urban water systems.

07/10/2026

👏🎉 Please join us in congratulating Md Sahidul Islam on being accepted to the 2026 Near-Surface Geophysics Community Input Workshop sponsored by the NSF National Geophysical Facility - EarthScope Consortium!

This competitive workshop brings together researchers, professionals, and late-stage Ph.D. students from across the near-surface geophysics community.

Participants help shape future scientific collaboration, infrastructure, and research priorities.

We’re proud to see Sahidul represent the University of Memphis, CERI, and CAESER in this select group, and we look forward to the impact he’ll make and the knowledge he’ll bring back to our research community. 🎓🌍

Help us congratulate Sahidul in the comments! 👏