Ecological Engineering is an emerging field founded on the principles of ecology. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment is coupled with classical engineering disciplines. The area’s focus is to understand and utilize the “self-design” of biological systems to solve a myriad of societal and environmental issues.

The Ecological Engineering program - one of only a few in the world - offers a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. As a student in our program, you will integrate field studies, basic research, modeling, product design, and system construction. This discipline is a unique, fresh perspective to tackle the impacts of urban, industrial, and agricultural development on the environment.

Research in Ecological Engineering includes flood prevention using wetlands, restoration of damaged or degraded ecosystems, creation of new wildlife habitat, use of vegetation communities in waste water treatment, and use of sludge or other waste to restore degraded ecosystems. Other research areas that students in our Ecological Engineering program are directly involved with include: developing models of environmental self-design through mesocosms of natural systems, constructing monitoring tools, designing and testing wastewater treatment techniques, creating products to treat agricultural runoff on site, exploring urban agriculture and urban watershed issues. The Graduate Ecological Engineering Society is a forum for students to share research ideas.

You will have access to field equipment, laboratories, growth chambers, a greenhouse, a GIS modeling center, computer labs, materials shops, boats, vehicles and more. The geography and development of the surrounding communities has created many unique research opportunities; from restored wetlands along an urban river to created wetlands on a dairy farm students have a diverse landscape to harness for their ideas. Access to world-renowned research facilities makes these opportunities exceptionally rich. Affiliated research facilities include the Horn Point Environmental Laboratories and the Chesapeake Biological Laboratories, the Appalachian Laboratory in the mountains of Maryland, and the Marine Biotechnology Institute.

Department of Biological Resources Engineering Home Page