Robert Nairn

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Robert Nairn

Robert W. Hughes Centennial Professor of Engineering

David L. Boren Professor, Sam K. Viersen Family Foundation Presidential Professor

Email: nairn@ou.edu
Phone: (405) 325-3354
Office: Carson Engineering Center, Room 301C

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Education
Ph.D., Environmental Science (1996)
The Ohio State University

B.S., Environmental Science (1989)
Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA

About

Dr. Nairn's research and teaching focus broadly on watershed biogeochemistry and ecological engineering. He emphasizes the role of natural infrastructure in providing services which benefit society and environmental quality, with an emphasis on water quality and ecosystem restoration.

Research Focus

Nature-based solutions, natural infrastructure, ecological engineering, Engineering With Nature, watershed biogeochemistry, ecosystem restoration, and wetland science, with a focus on biogeochemical and ecological processes contributing to ecotoxic metal contaminant retention in mine drainage passive treatment systems.

Current Research Projects

Wetland Mesocosm Studies Supporting Integration of Water Reuse and Stormwater Management, U.S Bureau of Reclamation
Citizen Science to Address Water Quality Challenges in One of America’s Most Endangered Rivers, Local Environmental Action Demanded Agency and American Rivers
Exploring Engineering With Nature (EWN) Opportunities and Applications in the Inland United States, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center
Understanding Iron Oxide Mineralogy to Enhance Sorption: Sustainable Environmental and Economic Reuse of Mine Drainage Treatment Solids, Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement
Characterizing Clumsy Reuse Solutions via Socio-scientific Modelling Innovations, Variable and Marginal Quality Waters Task 5 of EPSCoR RII Track-1: Socially Sustainable Solutions for Water, Carbon, and Infrastructure Resilience in Oklahoma (S3OK), National Science Foundation
Keeping the Red Water Clear: Operation and Maintenance of the Mayer Ranch and Southeast Commerce Passive Treatment Systems at the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Continued Monitoring and Evaluation of the Southeast Commerce Passive Treatment System and Unnamed Tributary Receiving Stream, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Passive Treatment of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Wastewater Effluent by Wetland Ecosystems, Variable and Marginal Quality Waters Task 1 of EPSCoR RII Track-1: Socially Sustainable Solutions for Water, Carbon, and Infrastructure Resilience in Oklahoma (S3OK), National Science Foundation
Grand River Dam Authority Graduate Student Support, Grand River Dam Authority
A Watershed Approach to Ecosystem Conservation, Management and Restoration: Support for Grand Lake o' The Cherokees Watershed Planning, Grand River Dam Authority

Experience and Awards

Research Biologist, U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines (1989-1992)
Presidential Fellow/Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University (1992-1996)
Professor, University of Oklahoma (OU) (1997-present)
Vice President for Research and Partnerships Annual Award for Excellence in Research Grants, OU (2021)
Provost’s Community Engagement Award for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity, OU (2019)
Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science (E3S) Honor Award for University Research, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (2018)
William T. Plass Lifetime Achievement Award, American Society of Mining and Reclamation (2017)
Outstanding Research Impact Award, OU (2012)
Richard I. and Lela M. Barnhisel Reclamation Researcher of the Year Award, American Society of Mining and Reclamation (2011)
United Way Volunteer of the Year Award (Service to Education/Youth), United Way of Norman (co-awarded to K.A. Nairn, 2011)
Mike Synar Environmental Excellence Award, Local Environmental Action Demanded (2007)
Larry W. Canter Influencing Environmental Interest Award, OU (2000, 2002, 2003, 2016)
Oklahoma Public Health Excellence Award, OU (2000)

Professional Activities and Organizations

American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (Board Certified Environmental Scientist)
American Ecological Engineering Society (Life Member)
American Society of Reclamation Sciences (Life Member, Past President)
Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors
International Affiliation of Land Reclamationists
International Mine Water Association (Executive Council)
Society for Ecological Restoration
Society of Wetland Scientists
Associate Editor, Mine Water and The Environment
Editorial Board, Ecological Engineering: The Journal of Ecosystem Restoration
Editorial Board, Reclamation Sciences
Editorial Board, Water
City of Norman, Environmental Control Advisory Board
Lake Thunderbird Watershed Alliance (Technical Advisor)
Watershed Restoration Incorporated (President)

Selected Publications

Holzbauer-Schweitzer, B.K. and R.W. Nairn. 2022. In-situ Manipulations of Aquatic Optical Depth and its Effect on sUAS-Derived Spectral Reflectance. Drone Systems and Applications. https://doi.org/10.1139/dsa-2022-0007
McCann, J.I. and R.W. Nairn. 2022. Characterization of Residual Solids from Mine Water Passive Treatment Oxidation Ponds at the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, USA: Potential for Reuse or Disposal. Cleaner Waste Systems. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwas.2022.100031
Shepherd, N.L., E. Keheley, R.C. Dutnell, C.A. Folz, B.K. Holzbauer-Schweitzer, and R.W. Nairn. 2022. Picher Field underground mine workings of the abandoned Tri-State Lead-Zinc Mining District in the United States. Journal of Maps 18(2): 331-341. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2022.2057877
Shepherd, N.L. and R.W. Nairn. 2021. Induced mobilization of stored metal precipitates from beaver (Castor canadensis) created wetlands on a mine drainage impacted stream. Wetlands Ecology and Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-021-09839-z
Nguyen, D.X., R.W. Nairn and R.C. Knox. 2021. Sand filtration by various reactive materials for bioretention cell design considerations. Journal of Environmental Engineering. 147(11): 04021050.
Sikora, A.J., L.W. Maguire, R.W. Nairn and R.C. Knox. 2021. A comparison of XRFS and ICP-OES methods for soil trace metals analyses in a mining impacted agricultural watershed. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2021 193:490, doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09275-9
Tang, Z. and R.W. Nairn. 2021. Recovered mine drainage passive treatment residuals address legacy sediment pollution: A field mesocosm study at Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, Oklahoma. Ecological Engineering. 170: 106358, doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106538
Tang, Z. and R.W. Nairn. 2021. Mine Drainage Residual Additions to Lake Sediments Alter Phosphorus and Trace Metal Distributions. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. 232: 52 (2021) 10.1007/s11270-021-05016-3
Shepherd, N.L. and R.W. Nairn. 2020. Metals Retention in a Net Alkaline Mine Drainage Impacted Stream Due to the Colonization of the North American Beaver (Castor canadensis). Science of the Total Environment, doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139203
Arango, J.G., B.K. Holzbauer-Schweitzer, R.W. Nairn and Robert C. Knox. 2020. Generation of Geolocated and Radiometrically Corrected True Reflectance Surfaces in the Visible Portion of the Electromagnetic Spectrum Over Large Bodies of Water using Images from an sUAS. Journal of Unmanned Aerial Systems, doi.org/10.1139/juvs-2019-0020