What are you working on now that excites you the most?
The Jefferson Project at Lake George, which is a partnership between IBM, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and The FUND for Lake George. Lake George is a pristine lake in the Adirondack region of New York. Through a combination of sensor-based monitoring, sophisticated computer modeling and experimentation, we’re gaining a better understanding of water quality changes seen in the lake over the past 37 years as related to environmental stressors. The underpinnings include an interdisciplinary scientific approach: we collaborate with biologists, freshwater ecologists, civil/environmental engineers, geologists and visualization artists. This research is making a difference for Lake George, and we continue to build on solid science to develop environmental solutions to address current and future global environmental issues.
“This research is making a difference for Lake George, and we continue to build on solid science to develop environmental solutions to address current and future global environmental issues.”
What’s your advice for tackling tough problems?
It can be helpful to incorporate an interdisciplinary approach and involve experts from different fields to examine various aspects of a complex problem. On the Jefferson Project, I have the honor of working with a very talented and dedicated team of IBM researchers comprised of computer scientists, engineers, atmospheric physicists, a mathematician, a marine biologist and a limnologist. (Limnology is the study of inland waters.) By bringing such a diverse group together and looking at problems from perhaps unexpected perspectives, we often gain breakthrough insights.
Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life?
I consider myself especially blessed and fortunate to have had the privilege of studying under Professor John C. H. Spence. As an undergraduate, Professor Spence provided me with my introduction to electron microscopy and has been an incomparable mentor through graduate school and to this day.
What does being an IBM Fellow mean to you?
It’s a great honor to be recognized for my work in environmental science, a field I’ve been passionate about for many years. I've always loved nature, and to be recognized for my contributions is extremely rewarding.