Professor Efi Foufoula-Georgiou is recognized for outstanding intellectual leadership in the quantitative analysis of Earth-surface processes and the forms that they produce. Professor Foufoula-Georgiou has been a pioneer in developing mathematical theory and applying innovative data analysis methods to understand Earth-surface dynamics. Her work has led the community in learning to unlock the potential of the ongoing Earth-data revolution, and demonstrated the powerful insights that can be achieved. Her contributions are wide-ranging, and include fundamental work on topographic forms, channel networks, deltas, river morphology, hydrodynamics, streamflow, sediment transport, bedforms, and stratigraphy. Incredibly, these topics represents only one element of a broader research portfolio with strong roots in precipitation, climate, and remote sensing, which encompasses topics as diverse as wildfire, wetlands, delta systems risk assessment and management, agriculture, and sustainable development. Professor Foufoula-Georgiou has contributed significantly at the community level, organizing numerous workshops and conferences, and contributing to leadership of major national organizations and initiatives such as the National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics (NCED), the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science (CUAHSI), and the American Geophysical Union. She has trained numerous graduate students, many of whom are now leaders in the academic community. Efi Foufoula-Georgiou is a Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Henry Samueli Chair in Engineering, and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine. She is also Professor Emerita at the University of Minnesota.
