Scott McCoy

Scott McCoy is an Associate Professor and holder of the Peter Vardy Endowed Professorship in Engineering Geology at the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno. His research integrates Earth science and engineering to develop predictive models for surface processes like floods, landslides, and debris flows across multiple timescales. Contact: scottmccoy@unr.edu | Office: LME 411 | Mail Stop: 0172

• Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder (2012) in Geological Sciences
• B.S. & B.A., University of Washington, Seattle (2005) in Geology & Business Administration

McCoy's work addresses fundamental questions about hazardous surface processes: Why do they occur? When? How large? What areas are vulnerable? How do they shape landscapes? How will climate, land use, and tectonic changes affect them? His projects combine:

• Field mapping and environmental sensor networks
• Geochemical dating and digital elevation analysis
• Continuum/fluid/granular mechanics
• Scientific programming and computational modeling
• Discrete element simulations and lab experiments

Recent publications focus on postfire debris flow prediction, waterfall erosion dynamics, ice-dammed lake outbursts, and steepland morphology. His research bridges immediate hazard mitigation with long-term landscape evolution studies.

• Peter Vardy Endowed Professorship in Engineering Geology (2017)

McCoy's group investigates sediment entrainment mechanics, drainage network evolution, and climate-landform interactions through field measurements, computational models, and controlled experiments. Their work reveals how surface processes transport mass/energy across Earth's surface while addressing practical risks to communities.