Dr. Thomas Boving is a Professor of Hydrogeology at the University of Rhode Island, USA. Born in Germany, he studied Geology at the University of Tübingen, Germany. After receiving his PhD in Hydrology and Water Resources from the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA, in 1999, he joined the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, USA, where he maintains a joint appointment in the Department of Geosciences and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Boving is as an expert in the field of soil and groundwater remediation and is the co-author of the leading textbook in his field. He published over 80 work products, including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and a book. His work is cited over 5,000 times. Dr. Boving’s research focuses on the fate and transport of legacy and emerging contaminants and their remediation, using novel treatment technologies. He also researches sustainable, community operated water treatment systems, such as riverbank filtrations technology, and their application in underserved rural areas in emerging economies. Besides his work in the US, he collaborates with researchers in North Africa and, for over 15 years, with NGOs and academic institutions in India, Nepal, and Indonesia. He currently serves on several boards of water research and management organizations and directs his university’s Graduate Certificate in Hydrology program. Outside his academic work, Dr. Boving enjoys building wooden furniture and traveling with his family.
As a Fulbright-Nehru scholar, Dr. Boving seeks to teach and conduct research in hydrogeological remediation science and engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee, India. Remediation science and engineering in hydrogeology focuses on technologies and practices for the efficient and economic clean-up of polluted (ground)water. Starting in early 2023, Dr. Boving intends to teach the science and engineering fundamentals of groundwater remediation while also collaborating with faculty and students on innovative remediation technology research projects. A key beneficial outcome would be establishing the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT as a hotspot for hydrogeological remediation teaching and research in India.