Location
Olsson Hall 101A
151 Engineers Way
Olsson Hall 101A
Charlottesville, VA 22904

About

Garrick Louis is Professor of Engineering and Society (E&S), and  Professor of Systems & Information Engineering (SIE) the University of Virginia. His research investigates Engineering for the Greater Good (EGG) with an emphasis on access to infrastructure services across different communities.  Louis uses mutual benefit approaches to broaden participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. Louis has a BSc. In Chemical Engineering from Howard University, MSc. in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. He received the 2000 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from the National Science Foundation, is a 2006-7 AAAS Energy Environment and Natural Resources Fellow, a 2014 Design and Health Faculty Fellow at the University of Virginia, and a 2015 Jefferson Science Fellow as Science Advisor to the Office of Global Food Security at the U.S. Department of State. Louis is a Fulbright Specialist in Environment & Development, co-lead of UVA’s Resilient Urban Water Systems Working Group, and Director of the Small Infrastructure and Development (SID) Center. Louis chairs the Editorial Board of the Online Ethics Center and is the treasurer of the National Sustainability Society. Louis received the 2022 John T. Casteen Leadership Award  and the 2024 Excellence in Public Service Award from the University of Virginia. 

Education

B.S. ​Chemical Engineering, Howard University, 1983

M.S. ​Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1985

Ph.D. ​Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 1996

Post-Doc ​Green Design Institute, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, 1996-1997

Poverty is the incapacity to achieve one’s human potential within the era and society in which one lives. My research seeks to build capacity for sustained access to essential human services, with special focus on people in marginalized communities.” I define sustainability as “the ability to provide sustained access to services at the required quantity and quality over the required planning horizon at minimal economic, environmental, and social cost to present and future generations.

Garrick Louis Professor

Research Interests

Sustainability and Human Needs Equitable Sustainability - The Trailing Edge of Technology
Engineering for Greater Good (EGG) Sustainable Access to Infrastructure Services
Broadening Engagement in Engineering Education Building Self-Efficacy for Success in Engineering Education
Capacity Factor Analysis (CFA) Capacity Building for Sustained Access to Essential Human Services in Marginalized Communities

Selected Publications

Addressing social equity in coastal climate adaptation planning: A case study of Norfolk, Virginia (2024). Valerie Michel ,Sadegh Eghdami, Majid Shafiee-Jood, Garrick Louis
Addressing social equity in coastal climate adaptation planning
“Optimal Control Strategies for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Mitigating Spread of Waterborne Diseases,” Journal of Process Control, V. 133. January 2024. Chaysiri, R; W. Chinviriyasit; and G.E. Louis; (2024)
Optimal Control Strategies for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
“A Decision Support System for Selection of Appropriate Water Supply and Sanitation Technologies in Developing Countries,” Journal of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for Development, V. 11., N. 2. A. Bouabid, G. Louis
Appropriate Water and Sanitation Systems
“Divergent Water Governance Scenarios for Addressing Critical Uncertainty in Agricultural Water Demand Management in The MENA Region: A Case Study of Zayanderud Basin, Iran.” Agricultural Water Management. V. 229. (2020) N. Nazemi, R.W. Foley, G. Louis, L.W. Keeler
Divergent Water Governance Scenarios
“Innovation for Development: Africa,” in What Do Science, Technology, and Innovation Mean from Africa, C. Mahvunga, Ed., MIT Press, June 2017. 151-167 G. Louis, N. Nazemi, S. Remer
Innovation for Development: Africa
“Capacity Factor Analysis for Evaluating Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Choices for Developing Communities,” J Environ Management. 2015 Sep 15;161:335-43. Epub 2015 Jul 20. A. Bouabid, G. Louis
Capacity Factor Analysis

Courses Taught

SYS 2620/STS 2620, Science & Technology Public Policy
SYS 3021, Deterministic Decision Models
SYS 3046/SYS 6046, Sustainability & Human Needs
SYS 6041, Ethics in Science & Engineering Research and Practice
SYS 6070, Unit Processes of Water and Sanitation Systems

Awards

2024 University of Virginia, Excellence in Public Service Award. 2022 University of Virginia, John T. Casteen III 2022 Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Award
2018 American Society for Engineering Management, Faculty Advisor for the Merl Baker Award – Best International Annual Conference Student Paper. (Students: Valerie Michel, Neda Nazemi, Tim Eddy)