May 2024 marked the first time in 16 years since the Department of Biological Systems Engineering hosted the American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES) Annual Meeting. The AEES promotes the development of sustainable ecosystems through education, outreach, and research.  

Of the 170 participants from various academic, environmental consulting, government, and non-profit organizations, over half were students. Many of these students were able to attend thanks to travel or registration scholarships made possible by a conference grant from the National Science Foundation.  

“The conference provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about the latest research on a wide range of nature-based solutions, from the creation of coastal wetlands to the design of sustainable solar farms to improving habitat for freshwater mussels.” said Tess Thompson, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering.  

As part of the conference, participants had the chance to tour Virginia Tech’s StREAM Lab, located along Stroubles Creek. StREAM Lab is a unique outdoor research center that provides an ideal setting for studying the effects of urban development, stormwater management, and community stewardship on water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Additional activities included: tours of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center and of the New River and Sinking Creek; a Certified Ecological Designer training, which is a professional certification program offered by AEES; and a campus stormwater tour by members of the VT Site and Infrastructure Development team and a BSE alumni which provided insight into effective stormwater design and maintenance. 

The conference served as a springboard for the society’s new platinum open-access journal, the Journal of Ecological Engineering Design, and provided updates on the development of ABET-accredited Ecological Engineering degree programs, including a new Ecological Engineering major at Virginia Tech  within the Department of Biological Systems Engineering.