Robbins - Natural Resources and the Environment - University of Connecticut
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Dr. Gary A. Robbins
Professor of Geology
Department of Natural Resources & the Environment

University of Connecticut
U-4087, 1376 Storrs Road
Storrs, CT 06269-4087
 

Room #321

Phone: (860) 486-2448

Lab: (860) 486-0262
Fax: (860) 486-5408
Gary.Robbins@uconn.edu

Education

Ph.D., 1983 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX Department of Geology
M.S., 1972 Brown University, Providence, RI Department of Geology
B.S., 1970 Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY Department of Geology

Experience

2004 - Present Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Faculty Member Center for Integrative Geosciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT Professor
1986 - 2004 Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT Associate Professor to Professor
1984 - 1986 Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Santa Ana, CA Senior Project Hydrogeologist
1983 - 1984 Department of Geology, Texas A & M, College Station, TX Assistant Professor
1980 - 1983 Department of Geology, Texas A & M, College Station, TX Lecturer
1975 - 1980 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C. Geologist Intern to Project Geologist (GS-14)
1971 - 1974 Brown University, Providence, RI Research Assistant

Patents

  • Apparatus and Method for Measuring Volatile Constituents in Earth Samples, U.S. Patent No. 5,050,425, date 9/24/91, U.S. Patent No. 5,140,845, date 8/25/9

Professional Affiliations

  • Certified Professional Geologist, American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG-06715)
  • Registered Geologist & Certified Engineering Geologist, State of California
  • Member, Geological Society of America (Rep. of Hydrogeology Div. to NE Section, 1988-1991)
  • Member, Association of Engineering Geologists (Groundwater Committee Chairman 1983-85)
  • Member, National Ground Water Association (Past Associate Editor, Ground Water; 2013-2014 Awards Comm. Chair
  • Member, American Geophysical Union
  • Member, International Association of Hydrogeologists(Associate Editor of US Chapter newsletter)
  • Member, Connecticut Environmental Professional Organization (Educational Committee 2008 - present)
  • Member, Geological Society of Connecticut
  • Member International Water Resources Association

Honors and Distinctions

  • 2016 - 2017 UCONN Innovative Teaching Professor

  • 2015 Coordinated development of Memorandum of Agreement between U. Connecticut and National Research Council of Italy

  • 2014 Roman Aqueduct Art and Engineering Exhibit, U. Connecticut

  • 2014 Keynote Speaker at annual Connecticut Environmental Professional Organization meeting

  • 2013 Chair, Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources

  • 2012 Semester Abroad Instructor at the Institute at Palazzo Rucellai, Florence, Italy

  • 2012 Recipient of the Contribution to Practice Award, Licensed Site Professionals Association (of Massachusetts)

  • 2012 Co-Chair, Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources

  • 2011, Dept of NRE delegation to China for Sino/US workshops on soil and water research

  • 2005, 2007, 2012 Recipient of a U. Connecticut, Environmental Policy Advisory Council, Environmental Leadership Certificate of Appreciation

  • 2001 Recipient of the U. Connecticut, Chancellor’s Information Technology Award

  • Board of Trustees of the Manchester, Connecticut Library (1998-2002)

  • Founding President, Manchester Community Television, Inc. (1999- 2000)

  • Member of the Cox Cable Advisory Council (1998-2000)

  • Connecticut Ground Water Association (Founding Board Director, 1989-1993)

  • Past Member of Executive Committee of U. Connecticut Water Resources Institute

  • Past Member of Executive Committee of U. Connecticut Environmental Research Institute

  • Mobil Foundation, Inc.1995 and 1996 award recipient

  • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission High Quality Performance Award

  • Member, Sigma Gamma Epsilon Honorary Earth Science Society, Texas A&M University

  • Awarded W.G. Mills Fellowship in hydrology, Texas A&M University

Selected Current or Recent Grants

Grant
Source
Water Supply Capacity Credits within a Hydrologic Basin: Sustaining Ecosystem Services and
Revenues from Undeveloped Forests and Farms (CO-PI) 2015 -2017

USDA
MOA with Dept. of Public Health for Intern Training  (2016-2018)  
CT DPH
Direct Push Methods for Groundwater Sampling, Field Training  (2014)  
CT DEEP
Direct Push Methods for Groundwater Sampling, Field Training  (2014)
EPOC

Research and Recent Publications

Specializing in the study of the fate and transport of ground water contamination and ground water supply sustainability. Current projects:Using GIS based analyses in evaluating spatial and temporal trends in bedrock well hydraulic characteristics and water quality; Evaluating the occurrence and sources of high levels of arsenic in bedrock drinking water wells in Connecticut; Evaluating impact of permeable pavement drainage on groundwater quality; Application of a new method of DO alteration for assessing groundwater flow in fractured crystalline bedrock and karstic limestone; Evaluating source water conditions of the ancient Roman aqueducts in Rome.

  • Metcalf, M. J., Stevens, G.J and Robbins, G.A., 2016, Application of First Order Kinetics to Characterize MTBE Natural Attenuation in Groundwater, J. Contaminant Hydrology, V. 187, p. 47-54.
  • Vitale, S. and Robbins, G.A., 2016, Characterizing Groundwater Flow in Monitoring Wells by Altering Dissolved Oxygen, Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation, Volume 36, Issue 2, Spring 2016, p. 59-67.
  • Dietz, M., Angel, D., and Robbins, G.A., 2016, Permeable Asphalt: A New Tool to Reduce Road Salt Contamination of Groundwater in Urban Areas, Groundwater, online 30 AUG 2016, DOI: 10.1111/gwat.12454

  • Metcalf, M. and Robbins, G., 2014, Using Domestic Well Records to Determine Fractured Bedrock Watersheds and    Recharge Rates, Groundwater, V. 52, no. 5, p. 782-788.

  • Metcalf, M. J. and Robbins, G.A., 2014, Evaluating Groundwater Sustainability for Fractured Crystalline Bedrock. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, (early pub available online at doi:10.2166/ws.2013/179)

  • Libby, J., and Robbins, G.A., 2014 An Unsteady State Tracer Method for Characterizing Fractures in Bedrock Well, Groundwater, v. 52, no. 1, p. 136-144.

  • Starn, J.J., Bagtzoglou, A.C., and Robbins, G.A., 2013, Uncertainty in simulated groundwater quality trends in transient flow: Hydrogeology Journal, in press and published online.

  • Cassanelli, J., and Robbins, G.A., 2013, Road Salt Impact to Connecticut's Groundwater: A Statewide Centennial Perspective, Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 42, p.737-748.

  • Metcalf, M.J. and Robbins, G.A., 2013, Natural Buffering of Contaminants Related to Development in Fractured   Rock.  Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation, v. 33, no. 4: 89-99.

  • Metcalf, M. J. and Robbins, G.A., 2013, Domestic Well Database Development and Integration into a GIS: An     Approach for Managing Ground Water Resources. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, v.13.5,

    p. 993-1006

  • Libby, J., and Robbins, G.A., 2013 An Unsteady State Tracer Method for Characterizing Fractures in Bedrock Well, Groundwater,  in press and published online (doi 10.1111/gwat.12045)

  • Chlebica, D., and Robbins, G.A., 2013, Altering Dissolved Oxygen to Determine Flow Conditions in Fractured Bedrock Wells, Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, v. 33, no. 4, p. 100-107.

  • Starn, J.J,  Bagtzoglou, A., and Robbins, G.A., 2012, Methods For Simulating Solute Breakthrough Curves in Pumping Groundwater Wells, Computers & Geosciences 48: 244-255.

  • Chlebica, D.W., Robbins, G.A., Spera, H., Bagtzoglou, A.C., 2012, Resolving Fractured Bedrock Aquifer Flow and Sustainability Issues Using an Equivalent Porous Media Model, International Conference on Groundwater in Fractured Rocks, Poster Session, Prague, Czech Republic, May 23 and 24..

  • Metcalf, M.J., Robbins, G.: Deciphering Groundwater Trends in the Fractured Bedrock Using GIS for Resource Management and Planning, International Conference on Groundwater in Fractured Rocks, Poster Session, Prague, Czech Republic, May 21 and 22.

  • Libby, J., Robbins, G., 2012, Characterization of Water Contributing Fractures Intersecting a Well in Crystalline Bedrock Through Monitoring Changes In a Tracer Profile during Slug Test Recovery, International Conference on Groundwater in Fractured Rocks, Prague, Czech Republic, May 23.

  • Starn, J.J, Bagtzoglou, A., and Robbins, G.A., 2012, Methods For Simulating Solute Breakthrough Curves in Pumping Groundwater Wells, Computer and Geosciences, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2011.03.031

  • Starn, J.J, and Robbins, G.A., 2012, Complex flow paths in simulations of bedrock recharge in Connecticut, Geol. Soc. of Amer., Northeastern Section Meet., abstracts with programs, March 18 , Hartford, CT.

  • Libby, J. and Robbins, G.A.,.2012, Verifying an Unsteady State Tracer Dilution Method in Fractured Bedrock

  • Wells Using Physical and Computer Models, Geol. Soc. of Amer., Northeastern Section Meet., abstracts with programs, March 18 , Hartford, CT.

  • Chlebica, D.W. and Robbins, G.A., 2012, Deciphering Fractured Crystalline Bedrock Ground Water Recharge: Data Input, Constraints and Modeling Needs, Geol. Soc. of Amer., Northeastern Section Meet., abstracts with programs, Poster Session, March 18 , Hartford, CT.

  • Kahn-Bureau, D., Lewis, L., and G.A. Robbins, 2011, Testing DNA Barcoding Methods of Diatoms in an

  • Environmental Sample, Northeast Algal Society, 50th Anniversary Symposium, Poster Session, Woods Hole, MA, April, 15-17,.

  • Robbins, G.A., Aragon-Jose, A., 2011, Circumventing Sand Pack Drainage Complication in Determining Hydraulic Conductivity from Monitoring Wells with Partially Submerged Screens, North American Environmental Field Conference & Exposition, San Diego, CA, January 14.

  • Aragon-Jose, A.T., and Robbins, G.A.,, 2011, Low-Flow Hydraulic Conductivity Tests at Wells that Cross the Water Table, Ground Water, V. 49, No. 2, p. 426–43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of Connecticut
1376 Storrs Road, Unit 4087
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4087
Phone: 860-486-2840