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Rob Sowby

Assistant Professor
Full-Time Faculty

430C EB
Provo, UT 84602

Biography

Dedicated to advancing sustainable water supply, Dr. Robert B. Sowby has contributed to over 200 civil engineering projects throughout North America. He is a licensed professional engineer with particular expertise in the planning, design, construction, and operation of drinking water systems. He teaches and studies environmental engineering, urban water infrastructure, and sustainability.

Dr. Sowby studied civil engineering at Brigham Young University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Utah and practiced for 10 years in industry before coming to BYU. His other interests include classical music, mountaineering, business, German literature, and travel (50 states + 27 countries and counting). He was the 2020 recipient of ASCE’s Daniel W. Mead Prize for Younger Members.

Research Interests

• Drinking water planning, design, construction, and operation
• Urban water sustainability
• Water–energy nexus
• Water system resilience and emergency preparedness

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Utah (2018)
  • M.Eng., Civil and Environmental Engineering , Environmental and Water Quality Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2013)
  • B.S., Civil Engineering , Water Resources, Brigham Young University (2012)

Licenses and Certifications

  • Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) (2017 - Present)
  • Professional Engineer (PE - CA, MA, UT) (2016 - Present)

Honors and Awards

  • Daniel W. Mead Prize for Younger Members, ASCE (2020 - 2020)
  • A. Ivan Johnson Award for Young Professionals, AWRA (2019 - 2019)
  • Young Professional Award, AWWA Intermountain Section (2019 - 2019)

Memberships

  • American Water Works Association (2012 - Present)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (2009 - Present)
  • National Geographic Society (2008 - Present)

Courses Taught

Publications

Robert Bryan Sowby Andrew J South Robert Bryan Sowby Andrew J South Alyson H. Rapp Annelise M. Capener Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Carly H Hansen Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Benjamin Walter Abbott Bonnie K Baxter Karoline Busche Lynn De Freitas Rebecca J. Frei Teresa Gomez Mary Anne Karren Buck, Rachel L., Buck Joseph Pratt Price Sara Frutos Robert Bryan Sowby Janice Brahney Bryan G Hopkins Matthew Frank Bekker Jeremy S. Bekker Russell Ben Rader Brian Brown Mary Proteau Gregory T Carling Lafe Conner Paul Alan Cox Ethan McQuhae Christopher P Oscarson Daren T. Nelson R. Jeffrey Davis Daniel Horns Heather Dove Tara Bishop Adam Johnson Kaye Nelson John Bennion Patrick Belmont Robert Bryan Sowby Annelise Capener Kayson M. Shurtz Emily Dicataldo Robert Bryan Sowby Gus P Williams Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Riley C. Hales Michael F Bown Clifton B Farnsworth Andrew J South Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Rollin Hull Hotchkiss Sanjay Patel Robert Bryan Sowby Todd Elliott James Ferro Tom Walski Riley C Hales Robert Bryan Sowby Gus P Williams Everett James Nelson Daniel P Ames Jonah B Dundas Josh Ogden Robert Bryan Sowby Annelise Capener Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Emily Dicataldo Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Daniel R Jones Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Nathan T Lunstad Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Matthew J. Thompson Robert Bryan Sowby Thomas M. Walski Robert Bryan Sowby Robert B. Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Steven J. Burian Robert Bryan Sowby Daniel R. Jones Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Steven J. Burian Ashlynn S. Stillwell Christopher M. Chini Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Steven C. Jones Matt Jensen Sam Christiansen Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Steven J. Burian Kayson M. Shurtz Daniel K. Woodbury Robert Bryan Sowby D. Scott Hill Steven C. Jones Robert Bryan Sowby Steven C. Jones Alan Packard Todd Schultz Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Steven J. Burian Robert Bryan Sowby Steven C. Jones Paul W. Lindhardt Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Robert Bryan Sowby Steven C. Jones Robert Bryan Sowby Steven C. Jones