Abstract:
The combination of aging infrastructure, natural and human-caused hazards, and climate change presents significant challenges and opportunities for society, institutions, and practitioners across a range of professions. Nature-based solutions provide a path for integrating natural and engineered systems to improve the performance of infrastructure and human-engineered systems while also expanding the diversity of benefits these systems produce. Organizations around the world are using nature-based solutions for navigation infrastructure, flood risk management, drought/water resilience, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaption, among other purposes—leveraging the power of nature to solve problems and create value. These efforts highlight the need for new policy, procedures, and practice.
Bio:
Dr. Todd Bridges is a Professor of Practice in resilient and sustainable systems in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. Prior to joining UGA in 2023, Todd had a 30-year career in research with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and for 17 years served as the Senior Research Scientist (ST) for Environmental Science for the U.S. Army and the Corps of Engineers, where his leadership in innovation focused on the development of sustainable infrastructure. Todd founded the Corps’ Engineering with Nature® Program (www.engineeringwithnature.org) in 2010, which includes a broad range of research, field-scale applications, multi-sector collaborations, and communication efforts to advance the delivery of nature-based solutions. Among his many publications, Todd led a 5-year collaboration across the public and private sectors to develop and publish International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management. Todd and the EWN Program were contributors to the White House report Opportunities to Accelerate Nature-Based Solutions: A Roadmap for Climate Progress, Thriving Nature, Equity, & Prosperity. Among other awards, Dr. Bridges received a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award from President Biden in 2021 for exceptional leadership, accomplishments, and service.
