James Leonard Best

James Leonard Best holds the Jack C. Threet and Richard L. Threet Professorship in Earth Science and Environmental Change at the University of Illinois. He is also a Professor in Geography and Geographic Information Science, an Affiliate in Mechanical Science and Engineering, and a Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research focuses on sediment transport mechanics, river dynamics, and sedimentary environments, with notable contributions to turbulent flow modulation and basin evolution. Best has been honored with the AGU Fellow (2015) and the Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal (2018).

Education: Ph.D., Birkbeck College, University of London; B.S., University of Leeds. Teaching includes courses on global river systems, alluvial boundary layer dynamics, and clastic sedimentology.

Recent research emphasizes Tibetan Plateau meander migration, Bangladesh sedimentation adaptation, Amazon River morphodynamics, and turbulent flow across porous walls. Collaborations span international institutions, addressing topics like hurricane inland impacts and river basin human context.