Dr. Gene W. Eidson

Gene Eidson: Professor, Biological Sciences; Director, Center for Applied Ecology Professor, Biological Sciences
Director, Center for Applied Ecology
Founder, President & CEO, Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy
Adjunct Faculty, University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology

Degrees held:

B.S., Biology, University of South Carolina (1972)
M.S., Zoology, Clemson University (1975)
Ph.D., Zoology, Clemson University (1990)      

Responsibilities:

Dr. Eidson is Professor of Biological Sciences at Clemson University where he teaches restoration ecology and serves on the committees of Ph.D. candidates studying aquatic and restoration ecology. He is leading the environmental efforts of the Clemson University Restoration Institute and is founding director of the Center for Applied Ecology and Center for Watershed Excellence which are housed in the Restoration Institute. He also serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology.

Dr. Eidson is Founder, President, and CEO of Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational institute headquartered in Augusta, Georgia. The Academy has developed Phinizy Swamp Nature Park and the Center for Urban River Research in Augusta, Georgia through restoration of a 6000-acre floodplain swamp and the Center for Ecological Restoration in Ridgeway, South Carolina through restoration of the 2000-acre closed Kennecott-Ridgeway Gold Mine. Both venues have education and research facilities that support K-12 education, undergraduate and graduate research, and public outreach. Approximately 6,000 K-12 students attend formal across-the-curricula programs during the school year. Website: www.naturalsciencesacademy.org.

Recent Research:

Recent major research projects developed by Dr. Eidson where he serves as principal scientist include:

  • (1996 – 2005) ecological assessment, feasibility study, two-year pilot study, and design optimization study leading to construction and operation of a 650 acre created wetland system for advanced wastewater treatment for the City of Augusta, GA
  • (1999-ongoing) ecological remediation research program for Kennecott-Ridgeway Gold Mine in South Carolina focused on wetland creation and pit lake limnology;
  • (1999-ongoing) 350-acre Savannah River floodplain bottomland hardwood, lake, and river scar restoration project; and the multi-year (2005 – 2008) two-state public-private partnership funded Savannah River at Risk Initiative™ which also is supported by an EPA targeted watershed grant.

Presentations

Flite, O.P, G.W. Eidson, Preliminary Data from a Comprehensive Savannah River Study: The First Six Months, Proceedings of the 2007 Georgia Water Resources Conference, University of Georgia , Kathryn J. Hatcher, editor, Institute of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

Eidson, G.W. and O.P. Flite. 2005. Multi-Year Research on the Use of Constructed Wetlands for Advanced  Wastewater Treatment, Proceedings of the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference, University of Georgia , Kathryn J. Hatcher, editor, Institute of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

Eidson, G.W. and O.P. Flite. 2005. Multi-Year Research Comparison of Two Designs of Constructed Wetlands for Advanced Wastewater Treatment, Proceedings of the 2005 Wetland Society of America Conference, Charleston, SC.

Flite, O.P, G.W. Eidson, and J.E. Schindler. 2005. Developing a Model for the Physical, Chemical, and Biological     Parameters Driving Pit Lake Development, Proceedings of the 2005 American Ecological Engineering Society Conference, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Flite, O.P., G.W. Eidson, and J.E. Schindler. 2005. Physical, Chemical, and Biological Parameters Driving Pit Lake Development, Proceedings of the 2005 U.S. EPA Conference on Pit Lakes, Reno, NV.

Flite, O.P., G.W. Eidson, and J.E. Schindler. 2004. A Limnological Approach to Development of Meromictic Pit Lakes, Proceedings of Limnology and Oceanography Summer Meeting, Savannah, GA.

Flite, O.P., G.W. Eidson, and J.E. Schindler. 2003. Impact of Wind: Planning for Sustainable Pit Lakes, Proceedings of Geological Society of America Annual Conference, Seattle, WA. 



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