Chris Swan

Chris Swan

(617) 627-3211
200 College Avenue
Research/Areas of Interest:

engineering education, geoenvironmental and geotechnical engineering

Education

  • Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States, 1994
  • M.S., University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States, 1986
  • B.S., University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States, 1984

Biography

Chris Swan received a Sc.D. degree in civil and environmental engineering from MIT in 1994 and both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1984 and 1986, respectively. Prior to obtaining his Sc.D., Swan worked for GZA Geoenvironmental, Inc., a national engineering consulting firm specializing in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering projects. He has presented a number of technical seminars and guest presentations in the areas of site remediation techniques, solid waste management, and various topics in engineering education.

Swan currently teaches undergraduate-level courses that introduce general concepts of civil and environmental engineering (CEE 001) and geotechnical engineering (CEE 042). An initiator of the use of service learning in department courses, Swan continues to champion the development, implementation, and assessment of community engagement efforts in engineering education.

Chris Swan's current research interests lie in the areas of engineering education, waste reuse, and unique soil behaviors. Specific research projects include: impacts of community engagement on the education of engineering students; evaluating the benefits and barriers to faculty who are involved in various community engagement in engineering education efforts; research on the reuse of fly ash from coal burning facilities as a component of a synthetic lightweight aggregate; and behavior of soils undergoing cycles of freezing and thawing.