Congratulations to ISF affiliate Andrew Whelton on receiving the Purdue College of Engineering’s Faculty Excellence Award for Engagement in recognition of his leadership advancing disaster-ready water systems and protecting public health through applied research and community partnership.
A professor of civil and environmental engineering, Whelton has worked alongside communities, utilities and public agencies to translate emerging research into actionable recovery strategies following wildfires, chemical spills and infrastructure failures. His work has helped restore safe drinking water systems while strengthening infrastructure resilience nationwide.
By turning science into action, Whelton has become a leading voice in disaster response and water safety, delivering more than 400 invited presentations and authoring more than 300 publications and technical reports. His research on cross-linked polyethylene (CIPP) safety contributed to reforms by NIOSH and state health departments and helped catalyze new national public health resources.
Through his research, outreach and public engagement, Whelton continues to bridge engineering innovation with real-world impact, safeguarding both critical infrastructure and the communities that depend on it.