Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at Notre Dame

Stephen E. Silliman Professor

Biography Groundwater hydrology development, protection and management in both developed and developing applications

Dr. Silliman received his BSE in Civil Engineering from Princeton University in 1979. He completed the Masters and Ph.D. in the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Arizona, in 1981 and 1986, respectively. He joined the University of Notre Dame in January of 1986 and has served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the College of Engineering and is currently Professor and Associate Chair. Dr. Silliman has won multiple internal and external awards for teaching, service, and research. These include the ASEE Outstanding Teaching Award as well as the ASEE Global Engineering and Engineering Technology Award (both in 2006), nomination for the University of Oklahoma World Water Prize (2009) for his efforts at water resource development in Benin (West Africa), and selection as the National Ground Water Association Distinguished Darcy Lecturer for 2011.

Research Interests Dr. Silliman is a groundwater hydrologist who specializes in field studies, laboratory studies and application of numerical models for the study of groundwater flow and transport. Recently, his work has focused on field and numerical (including probabilistic) assessment of water source development and management. His laboratory studies have revolved around use of sophisticated laboratory flow cells containing complex heterogeneities allowing study of hydraulics, chemical transport, and microbial transport in saturated and unsaturated media. His numerical efforts have revolved around use of Monte Carlo and PRA methodologies for the study of uncertainties related to groundwater protection and management. His recent field efforts have focused on groundwater supply, protection and management in developing countries. Specifically, he has been involved in collaborative projects with colleagues from the country of Benin, West Africa, focused on: (i) water quality of rural groundwater wells, (ii) characterization of coastal groundwater dynamics involving anthropogenic and salt-water contamination of major groundwater production wells, and (iii) development of new rural water supplies through collaboration on drilling of new groundwater wells. These efforts have involved integration of numerical, geochemical, hydraulic, and geophysical approaches to understanding complex subsurface systems.

Recent Papers

Silliman, S.E., E. Fisker, and J. Pescator, 2010, "Potential for establishing non-vertical flow within the Vadose Zone," revision under review, Vadose Zone Journal.

Silliman, S.E., B.I. Borum, M. Boukari, N. Yalo, S. Orou-Oete, D. McInnis, C. Fertenbaugh, and A.D. Mullen, 2010, "Issues of sustainability of coastal groundwater resources: Benin, West Africa," revised manuscript under review, Sustainability.

Silliman, S.E., R.H. Mohtar, K.G. Paterson, and W.P. Ball, 2010, "Engineering academic program for hydrophianthropy: Commonalities and challenges," Journal of ContemporaryWater Research and Education, INVITED, in review.

Meyers, K.L., M.W. Ohland, A.L. Pawley, S.E. Silliman, and K. A. Smith, 2010, "Factors predictive of engineering identify," Journal of Engineering Education, in review.

Meyers, K.L., M.W. Ohland, S.E. Silliman, and N.L. Gedde, "A comparison of engineering students' reflections on first year experience," Journal of Engineering Education, accepted for publication, to appear April, 2010.

Crane, P.E., S.E. Silliman, and M. Boukari, "Community-based groundwater quality monitoring: An initial discussion," Invited paper, Guidelines for Community Groundwater Supply and Protection in Africa, UNESCO / IAHS, in press, 2009.

Silliman, S.E., "Reflections on a decade of international experiences for students in water resources: Assessment of water projects in Haiti and Benin," IEEE T&S Magazine, Special Issue on Volunteerism and Humanitarian Engineering, 28(4), 16-24+, 2009.

Crane, P.E., and S.E. Silliman, "Alternatives in Sampling Strategies and Methods for Estimation of Parameters of Groundwater Quality in Rural Regions of Developing Countries," Ground Water, 47(5), 699-708, 2009.

Silliman, S.E., P.E. Crane, M. Boukari, F. Azonsi, and F. Glidja, "Spatial and temporal groundwater quality monitoring in rural Benin, West Africa: An example of collaboration with local populations," Proceedings of the 2008 International Conference on Groundwater & Climate in Africa, Kampala, Uganda, IAHS publication 334-08, 2009.

Silliman, S.E., C. Hamlin, P. Crane, and M. Boukari, "International Collaborations and Incorporating the Social Sciences in Research in Hydrology and Hydrologic Engineering," Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 13(1), 13-19, 2008.

Silliman, S.E. and K. Meyers, "Discussion of impact of different educational experiences in Haiti and Benin on undergraduate engineering students," accepted for the proceedings of the 2008 ASEE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education (October), 2008.

Silliman, S.E., M. Boukari, P. Crane, F. Azonsi, and C.R. Neal, "Observations on Element Concentrations of Groundwater in Central Benin," Journal of Hydrology, 335(3-4), 374-388, 2007 (dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.12.005).

Silliman, S.E., "Observations from a project to encourage multiple-year, international collaboration on research for undergraduates," Proceedings of the 2007 Annual ASEE Conference, Paper AC 2007-257, 2007.

Petruzzi, N.M. and S.E. Silliman, "A sampling device for collection of ground water bacteria under natural gradient flow," Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, 26(1), 85-91, Winter, 2006.

Silliman, S.E., M. Boukari, and P. Crane, "International Student Collaboration Through Projects Using Common Software and Field Experiences: Foundation to Project Development," Proceedings, Frontiers in Education National Conference, Session S3C, paper 1524, 2006.

Dunn, A.M., S.E. Silliman, S. Dhamwichukorn, and C.F. Kulpa, "Demonstration of Microbial Transport into the Capillary Fringe via Advection from Below the Water Table," Journal of Hydrology, 306(1-4), 50-58, 2005.

Silliman, S.E., M. Boukari, and P. Crane, "A Collaborative Project in West Africa: Student Research Experience in Development," Proceedings of the Frontiers in Education National Conference, Session S1D, Paper 1627, 2005.

Silliman, S.E., K. Abbott, G.C. Clark, and L. McWilliams, "Use of a Tablet PC and Wireless Connectivity for Effective Lectures in a Large Lecture Hall," Proceedings of the 2005 Annual Conference, American Society of Engineering Education, 2005.

Pieronek, C., L.H. McWilliams, S.E. Silliman, J.J. Uhran, M. Gunty, C. Graf, "Monolith or Mosaic: Using Demographics and Detailed Surveys to Understand the Many and Varied Dimensions of First-Year Female Engineering Students," Proceedings of the 2005 Annual Conference, American Society of Engineering Education, 2005.

McWilliams, L.H., C. Pieronek, S.E. Silliman, C. Graf, M. Gunty, "Survey Results for Students in a First-Year Engineering Course," Proceedings of the 2005 Annual Conference, American Society of Engineering Education, 2005.

Uhran, JJ, Jr., S.M. Batill, and S.E. Silliman, "A curriculum renovation revisited," Proceedings of the 2005 Annual Conference, American Society of Engineering Education, 2005.

Image Gallery Please browse the following websites to view more images and information:

General: www.nd.edu/~silliman
Benin: www.nd.edu/~silliman/Development/benin
Laboratory: www.nd.edu/~silliman/lab1.html

Contact Information Office: 106E Cushing Hall
Phone: (574) 631-5332
Email: Silliman.1(at)nd.edu
Web: www.nd.edu/~silliman

Primary Research Areas Groundwater hydrology
Laboratory methods in groundwater research
Field methods in characterization of groundwater systems
Integration of data sources with mathematical (deterministic and stochastic) descriptions of groundwater systems.

Lab Personnel Graduate Students

Courses Groundwater Hydrology
Geostatistics
Other courses on a revolving basis