Tom Wall, a doctoral student in Transportation Engineering, has been awarded a Fulbright Schoalrship. This award is given by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, composed of 12 educational and public leaders appointed by the President of the United States. Out of the record number of applicants this year, three Georgia Tech students in all were awarded Fulbright grants for international research.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program provides participants - chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential - with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
Tom will spend the 2010-2011 academic year at the University of Oxford and the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Michael Meyer serves as Tom's doctoral advisor. Tom's Fulbright research will investigate the potential impact of climate change on transportation infrastructure. The growing consensus in the global scientific community is that the planet's climate is changing. The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported in 2007 that scientific observation has shown a global increase in the frequency and extremity of storm events, flooding, and average temperatures. Events such as Hurricane Katrina underscore the profound implications that such changes will have for civil infrastructure in the future. However, U.S. research institutions and government agencies have only recently begun to investigate strategies for adapting existing infrastructure to changes in the climate.
By conducting research at these institutions, Tom will learn about their current practices, to develop a new analytical method that takes into account a broader array of factors when prioritizing transportation infrastructure for adaptation. This research is a part of his doctoral dissertation, which will develop a new analytical framework to guide transportation professionals in developing cost-effective adaptation strategies for the United States.
Tom is originally from Seattle, Washington. He earned a B.S. in civil engineering from Oregon State and an M.S. in civil engineering from Georgia Tech. His grandfather was a civil engineer for a big Pacific Rim construction and design firm in California, which is what got Tom interested in the profession. His career goal is to become a college professor. He states "I like that it gives you an opportunity to make an impact by teaching future generations of engineers. I also like how the research aspect of the position allows you to contribute to and expand upon the collective knowledge of the engineering profession as a whole". In his free time, Tom enjoys skiing, and outdoor activities such as hiking, fly-fishing, and live music.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. For additional information, visit: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html