DESCRIPTION

Florida Atlantic University is a multipurpose institution with a threefold mission - teaching, research and public service - in a rapidly expanding urban environment. As a guideline for fulfilling its mission, the University has adopted the following statement of objectives.

The University is committed to extending the educational experience of its constituency with particular emphasis on the development of knowledge and the aquisition of skills that will provide useful and informed citizens with the ability to adapt, intellectually and technologically, to a changing environment. As a public university in a democratic society, the University must provide the student with an understanding of humankind's place in the universe, a sense and morality, a respect for dignity, an appreciation of human creativity, and an analytical and inquiring mind. Florida Atlantic University's research goal is to pursue excellence university-wide in discipline-based and multi- disciplinary research through peer-reviewed publication and creative performance, sponsored research, and graduate education. Through excellence in research, FAU aims to contribute to the advancement and preservation of knowledge as well as to serve as a resource for business, industry, government, social services, and community development, with particular responsiveness to the problems of the Southeast region of Florida.

The University is responsible for providing academic programs and public services to the counties of Palm Beach, Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, Hendry and Okeechobee. Additionally, FAU, as the lead institution, serves Broward County jointly with Florida International University. Population growth and the changing emphasis of economic activity in the service area are steering forces which inevitably will affect the development of the University.

SERVICE AND ACTIVITIES

The Civil Engineering Graduate Program includes specialization in Water Resources/Environmental Engineering. The program offers Master of Science (Thesis option) and Master of Engineering (non-Thesis option) degrees. Recent and on-going research projects include:

• Sediment dynamics in tidal inlets;
• Application of Artificial Neural Networks in regime-type rivers;
• Evaluation of the certainty of system performance measures of the South Florida Water Management Model;
• Water-sediment nutrient exchange;
• Instability of water-fluid mud interface;
• Waste reduction generated by large industries;
• Applicability of Recovered Screened Material with reference to metal contamination;
• Ecological modeling of estuaring systems.

AREA OF CONCENTRATION

River mechanics. Sediment dynamics. Sediment quality. Modeling of estuarine ecosystems. Free-surface hydrodynamics.

GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF ACTIVITES

Subtropical systems; coastal & oceanic systems.

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

University