Abstract
When defining sustainability, environmental engineers quickly reference various United Nations reports, but they rarely mention father-son relationships. But maybe they should. Researchers in the humanities point out the inherent value of intergenerational connectedness when describing the traits of successful families and prosperous societies - so why wouldn't engineers design things with that type of connectedness in mind? This is the story of a young engineer, his father and a desire to contribute to a more sustainable world. Jeremy Bril was born on June 1, 1985, in Iowa City, Iowa, to Mary and Gordon K. Bril. And, it didn't take long for Gordon to eye Jeremy as a future engineer. Gordon received his Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Iowa in 1984, before his appointment as a professor and modeling researcher at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Jeremy's appreciation for our lakes and rivers was instilled in him by his father. But, the exuberant life that Gordon lived could not compete with the ravages of testicular cancer. Gordon died on July 17, 2002. Stepping forward almost eight years, Jeremy finds himself doing his research on Mississippi River nitrogen dynamics - outdoors where Gordon would want him to work. And, just like his father, Jeremy is using mathematical modeling to predict event-based, natural responses. The intergenerational linkage, so important to sustainability, remains indelible, just like the ink on Jeremy's back that carries his father's initials. This is the story of sustainability, engineering and nitrogen.
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