Casey Brown
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Research Interests
Growing demand for water is a rising challenge for our economic, cultural and ecological systems.
Traditionally, governments and private interests responded to that challenge through water supply
development, such as dam construction and groundwater extraction. In some parts of the world, supply
development is still needed. In many other parts of the world, however, further water supply projects
entail economic and often ecological costs that are prohibitively high. Instead, alternative methods for
satisfying the growing and competing demands for water must be developed. In my research I study the
design and application of innovative water management methods drawn from economic modeling and
advances in the characterization and prediction of hydroclimate. My work integrates elements of
hydrology, engineering and economic theory to foster the design of water systems that better satisfy
society’s competing priorities.
A major component of my work is incorporating seasonal climate forecasting with water management
strategies. The increasingly sophisticated understanding of climate uncertainty and predictability of
seasonal climate anomalies present an important opportunity for water resource managers. While
formidable research efforts continue to reap gains in climate forecasting ability, the design and analysis
of systems that utilize these results are only slowly emerging. In my work I attempt to integrate
hydroclimate predictions with water resources decision-making for improved system performance. My
dissertation work provides an example of this approach. I designed a groundwater pricing strategy using
the contemporary groundwater elevation and a probabilistic forecast of the winter monsoon rainfall total
based on El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnections. The case study was located in the Palar
River basin in the state of Tamil Nadu, India where social and environmental damage from groundwater
depletion is manifest. This work contributed to the World Bank’s effort to introduce tariffs for
groundwater pumping in Tamil Nadu to alleviate over-drafting and the inequitable distribution of
benefits from this resource. I employ statistical methods for forecast development and simple
mathematical programming and optimization methods to model the hydro-socioeconomic system.
Future Work
Approaches are required that incorporate the interconnectedness of socioeconomic and environmental
systems to leverage available multidisciplinary expertise and the growing inventory of environmental
data. My goal for future research is to apply quantitative analysis and modeling of complex climatewater-human interactions utilizing new data sources and methodologies to advance water infrastructure
and policies that promote equity and ecological sustainability as well as economic growth. In the short
term, I intend to continue exploring the application of seasonal climate forecasting to water resources
management using statistical modeling informed by economic insights, while augmenting this approach
with spatial analysis techniques and remotely sensed datasets. Currently, I am investigating water
allocation decisions as part of the Florida Everglades restoration project with Upmanu Lall of Columbia
University. Next, advanced modeling techniques such as agent based modeling will be developed to
increase our understanding of dynamic coupled systems such as human-hydrological systems to design
tailored applications for achieving sustainable water management. I am creating the foundation for this
approach as part of an analysis of water allocation alternatives with IRI and Columbia collaborators
working in the water sector of Ceara, Brazil. Innovative policy instruments will be pioneered to
improve the resiliency of water infrastructure to conflicting demands and climate variability.
Casey Brown
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Teaching Interests
Teaching is an essential element of my interest in this faculty position at the University of Vermont. I
have had a wide range of teaching experiences, from teaching first aid to Air Force servicemen and –
women, to teaching environmental regulations to the Baltic militaries, to teaching environmental
engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Most recently I have served as Teaching Assistant for three
Harvard classes, Design of Water Resources Systems, Applied Statistics, and Environmental Science
and Technology. I have enjoyed each of these experiences. At the U.S. Air Force Academy I received
the top first-year instructor award and the outstanding educator award from the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering and I was nominated for the best teaching assistant award in the Division of
Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard.
My educational approach is based on the timeworn philosophy that students do not care how much you
know until they know how much you care. This includes careful preparation for each lecture and a
belief in the ability of your presentation to inspire students. Indeed, students must believe that you care
about their education. I make it my priority to know my students, to challenge them and to be accessible
to their interests and aspirations. By taking an interest in them as people, I have found students will
support you and at times carry you in the classroom. It has been my secret to success wherever I have
taught.
I enjoy teaching all classes related to water resources and hydrology. At the University of Vermont I
could contribute by teaching classes in hydrology and water supply, water resources in developing
countries, and environmental statistics and forecasting.