John Byrne has contributed to Working Group III of the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 1992 and shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Byrne is co-founder and co-executive director of the Joint Institute for a Sustainable Energy and Environmental Future, an innovative research and policy advocacy organization headquartered in South Korea. He is also a founding member of and served as the first research chair for the International Solar Cities Initiative, a pioneering program to assist cities around the world in building sustainable futures. He presently co-chairs the Sustainable Energy Utility Oversight Board, created by the Delaware General Assembly, and is the architect of this innovative concept for the promotion of energy efficiency, conservation, and distributed renewable energy generation. In 2009, Dr. Byrne received the American Institute of Architects Delaware Sustainability Award. 

Jingguang Chen's research areas include surface science studies of metal carbides and bimetallic alloys as novel catalytic materials and synthesis and characterization of thin films for applications in fuel cells, chemical sensors, solar cells, and hard-coating materials. Chen received the 2008 Award for Excellence in Catalysis from the Catalysis Society of Metropolitan New York.

Dominic DiToro specializes in the development and application of mathematical and statistical models to address stream, lake, estuarine, and coastal water and sediment quality problems. He has published over one hundred technical papers and the book Sediment Flux Modeling, published by J. Wiley & Sons. He has participated as expert consultant, principal investigator, and project manager on numerous water quality studies for industry, research foundations, and governmental agencies. Recently, his work has focused on the development of water and sediment quality criteria for the EPA, sediment flux models for nutrients and metals, and integrated hydrodynamic, sediment transport and water quality models.

Diane Herson's research group studies the physiology of organisms in water and soil. The group is particularly interested in the detection of these organisms and their ability to survive in these environments. Previous studies with coliform organisms in drinking water have demonstrated the protective role of attachment when these organisms are exposed to chlorine. They respond to chlorine by synthesizing a subset of new proteins, one of which is in the outer membrane. Herson's studies using INT, a tetrazolium dye, have indicated that INT reduction is a more sensitive assay than plate counts in detecting chlorine-injured organisms.

Yan Jin's research interest is in the general area of measurements, modeling, and interpretation of contaminant fate and transport in porous media. Since 2001, her research activity has been mainly focused on two major areas: (1) colloid and colloid-facilitated contaminant transport in porous media, with emphasis on the vadose zone, and (2) developing a potential new technology for removal and inactivation of waterborne viruses (and other microorganisms).

David Kirchman's current research interests include: microbial ecology of heterotrophic, photoheterotrophic and chemoautotrophic bacteria in aquatic environments (mainly estuaries and oceans); role of microbes in the carbon cycle; and phylogenetic structure of bacterial assemblages as revealed by molecular techniques.

George Luther's research focuses on redox reactions in the environment; trace element speciation in marine waters and sediments, including metal-ligand complexes; biogeochemical processes in marine environments; application of molecular orbital theory to geochemical processes; and in situ electrochemistry and microelectrode technology. His research group also emphasizes research that interfaces chemistry with biology, with the view that chemistry drives biology.

Sue McNeil is Director of the University of Delaware Transportation Center and the Disaster Research Center. Her research and teaching interests focus on transportation infrastructure management with emphasis on the application of advanced technologies, economic analysis, analytical methods, and computer applications. Dr. McNeil chairs the Transportation Research Board Committee on Asset Management and is a founding Associate Editor for the ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems. She is a registered professional engineer.

Daniel Rich has been a faculty member at the University of Delaware since 1970 and served as provost from 2001-2009.  He continues to lead projects to strengthen the university's academic programs in Southern Delaware and helps coordinate the "Creating Knowledge-Based Partnerships" conference series.  A recipient of a University excellence-in-teaching award, Rich is the author of 13 books and edited volumes and more than 100 articles, monographs and professional papers. Rich's public service contributions include work with Vision 2015 education reform and service on the boards of the Delaware Public Policy Institute, and Nemours Health and Prevention Services.

Tom Sims' research focuses on the relationship between soil and environmental chemistry and nutrient and trace element cycling in soils and sediments. Sims has been a leader in the development and implementation of environmentally sound soil management programs for agriculture and for industries and municipalities with significant waste management problems.

Carolyn Thoroughgood is a professor in the School of Marine Policy at the University of Delaware.  Thoroughgood is also the special assistant to the provost for program development at UD and President of the board of directors of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Observing Regional Association (MACOORA).