Scott W. Tyler

Professor and Director
Department of Geological Sciences
Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science
MS-175
University of Nevada , Reno
Phone: (775) 784-6250
Fax: (775) 784-1953


E-mail: tylersunr.edu

Home page: http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/tylers/index.htm

Education:

Ph.D. Hydrology/Hydrogeology, 1990, University of Nevada, Reno,
Dissertation Title:Fractal Applications to Soil Hydraulic Properties.
M.S. Hydrology, 1983, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Thesis Title: Field Results of Borehole Infiltration Tests.
B.S. Mechanical Engineering , 1978, University of Connecticut; Storrs

My areas of focus span the wide range of arid region hydrology, with particular interest in bridging the gap between hydrogeology and soil physics in the newly emerging area of vadose zone hydrology. I have joint appointment with the Department of Geological Sciences and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, as well Director of UNR’s interdisciplinary Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences. I am currently involved with studies of moisture flux and groundwater recharge in arid environments. Other work includes the development of soil-atmosphere models of energy and water flux, the study of ground-water/brine interactions in terrestrial environments, the reconstruction of paleoclimates from soil water chemistry, and reactive transport of contaminants in fractured, dual porosity unsaturated media and mine waste materials.

As Director of UNR’s Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences, I have the opportunity to guide and work with over 70 faculty at UNR, the Desert Research Institute and the U.S. Geological Survey in our nationally recognized Masters and doctoral degree programs in both hydrogeology and hydrology.

In addition, I have focused some of my energy towards educating U.S. students on the problems and issues faced by citizens of developing countries with respect to safe drinking water. I lead volunteer graduate and undergraduate trips to Chile , Haiti and soon, to west Africa to train local villagers in well drilling and well repair. At the same time, students from UNR in our Student Association for International Water Issues and other universities sponsored through our National Science Foundation funded REU site have the opportunity to learn first hand the difficulties faced by more than one billion people who do not have access to safe drinking water.