USACE launches new podcast series “Engineering With Nature”

Published Aug. 27, 2020
Data collection at a wetland restoration site that is providing coastal resilience and environmental valuein San Francisco Bay, CA

Data collection at a wetland restoration site that is providing coastal resilience and environmental valuein San Francisco Bay, CA

USACE Galveston District and the Texas Department of Transportation install Goliath Reef Balls to protect natural shorelines and provide habitat near the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in West Galveston.

USACE Galveston District and the Texas Department of Transportation install Goliath Reef Balls to protect natural shorelines and provide habitat near the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in West Galveston.

Dr. Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist (ST), Environmental Science and National Lead, Engineering With Nature Initiative, US Army Corps of Engineers.

Dr. Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist (ST), Environmental Science and National Lead, Engineering With Nature Initiative, US Army Corps of Engineers.

A new podcast series tells the stories of how, over the last 10 years, a growing international community of practitioners, scientists, engineers, and researchers across many disciplines and organizations are working together to combine natural and engineering systems to solve problems and diversify infrastructure value by applying the principles and practices of Engineering With Nature®.

A new podcast series tells the stories of how, over the last 10 years, a growing international community of practitioners, scientists, engineers, and researchers across many disciplines and organizations are working together to combine natural and engineering systems to solve problems and diversify infrastructure value by applying the principles and practices of Engineering With Nature®.

VICKSBURG, Miss. – A new podcast series tells the stories of how, over the last 10 years, a growing international community of practitioners, scientists, engineers, and researchers across many disciplines and organizations are working together to combine natural and engineering systems to solve problems and diversify infrastructure value by applying the principles and practices of Engineering With Nature®.


In 2010, Todd Bridges and a team of colleagues from across the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began the Engineering With Nature Intiative with the goal of advancing infrastructure practice by aligning natural and engineering processes to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits through collaboration.

To mark EWN’s 10th anniversary, USACE is launching the Engineering With Nature Podcast to showcase what has been achieved, share knowledge developed through EWN collaborations, and share the opportunity to apply EWN principles and practices in the US and around the world.

The Podcast will share stories and lessons learned from scientists, engineers and practitioners from around the world that are advancing EWN approaches.

“The EWN Podcast series focuses on innovation and collaboration by combining natural and engineering processes.  The outcomes are triple-win results for infrastructure, the environment, and the communities we serve,” said Bridges, who introduces EWN and tells the beginning of the story on the first episode of the podcast series.

Podcast host, Sarah Thorne of Decision Partners, has been part of the EWN initiative since the beginning. During the podcast, guests share stories of the challenges, unique collaborations and the compelling projects that exemplify the power and promise of the EWN approach.

“Listeners will hear from people who are transforming the approach to navigation, flood-risk reduction and other infrastructure needs across the US and around the world by applying Engineering With Nature principles and practices,” Thorne said. “The results they are producing are amazing. We hope our listeners will be inspired and encouraged by the tremendous potential of EWN.”

 

Engineering With Nature Podcast Series

 

About Engineering With Nature

Engineering With Nature (EWN) is defined as the intentional alignment of natural and engineering processes to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental and social benefits through collaborative processes.

Initiated in 2010 by a team of US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) scientists and engineers, EWN seeks to enable and support more sustainable water and infrastructure development practices, projects and outcomes by integrating engineering and natural processes.  There is a growing interest in nature-based solutions worldwide, and EWN approaches provide a means for delivering those solutions across USACE’s missions, including Navigation Infrastructure, Flood Risk Management, Ecosystem Restoration, and beyond. The collaborations and partnerships developed through EWN Initiative have expanded knowledge sharing and application across government, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and academia in the US and internationally. 

Sustainable development of infrastructure projects presents both challenges and opportunities. Practical approaches are needed to better understand and combine natural and engineered systems, where the desired outcome is more socially acceptable, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable projects. This is a goal shared by the USACE, its partner organizations, stakeholders, and the public.  For more information, please visit our website at: www.engineeringwithnature.org