Tom Ravens

Dr. Tom Ravens is a Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), serving as former Associate Dean of Research for the College of Engineering. His research focuses on Arctic coastal hazards, including erosion, flooding, permafrost thaw, and saltwater intrusion, alongside hydrokinetic renewable energy. He leads the NSF-funded Arctic Coastal Risk Network (ACRN), a collaborative effort to address Arctic coastal risks through interdisciplinary approaches.

Education:

• Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT (1997)
• M.A., Philosophy, University of Massachusetts (1990)
• M.E. & B.E., Engineering Sciences, Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College (1983)
• B.A., Engineering Sciences, Dartmouth College (1982)

Research Interests:

• Development of Arctic Xbeach models and process-based forecasting
• Coastal protection strategies (thermal, mechanical, nature-based)
• Hydrokinetic energy resource assessment and environmental impacts
• Risk communication and community adaptation

Teaching: Courses in Water Resources Engineering, Coastal Engineering, and Fluid Mechanics.

Service:

• Fluid Mechanics Lab Director at UAA
• Reviewer for journals like Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
• Proposal evaluator for NSF and Sea Grant programs

Labs/Teams: Leads the Arctic Coastal Risk Network and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on coastal resilience projects.