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Geological Society of America James B. Thompson, Jr. International's Distinguished Lectureship

NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award

Oak Ridge Associated Universities Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award

American Geophysical Union

Geological Society of America

International Association of Hydrogeologists

International Association of Mathematical Geosciences

Invisible groundwater threats to coastal urban infrastructure

Terrestrial groundwater drives coastal ecosystem shifts

The impacts of climate change on coastal groundwater

Feedbacks Regulating the Salinization of Coastal Landscapes

A comparison of sea-level rise and storm-surge overwash effects on groundwater salinity of a barrier island

The hidden influence of terrestrial groundwater on salt marsh function and resilience

Environmental Wellness: Introducing DENIN

In  the second episode of Environmental Wellness, Jacky Mata interviews  Holly Michael and Jeanette Miller who are both apart of the Delaware  Environmental Institute. They talk about the specific COVID-19  challenges surrounding Environmental Wellness and how to overcome them.  Be sure to check out the Delaware Environmental Institute’s Website and  email DENIN with any other questions you might have.
Website: https://www.denin.udel.edu/
Email: denin-info@udel.edu

If you need a transcript or would like to listen with captions, visit: www.udel.edu/008185

Environmental Wellness Interview: DENIN pt 2

Holly Michael is the Unidel Fraser Russell Chair in the Environment and Professor in the Departments of Earth Sciences and Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware. She is also Director of the Delaware Environmental Institute. She holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a PhD in Hydrology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is an Associate Editor of Water Resources Research and served as the Geological Society of America James B. Thompson, Jr. International Distinguished Lecturer. Her research interests include saltwater intrusion, water resource management, contaminant hydrology, coastal hydrogeology, groundwater-surface water interactions, and geostatistics. Some of her current projects include investigating the coastal critical zone, measuring groundwater flow into estuaries, modeling groundwater salinization due to climate change, evaluating sustainability of arsenic-safe groundwater in Bangladesh, and application of experimental economics to groundwater resources.

Water Supply Sustainability

Groundwater Salizination

Water Resource Management

Climate Change Adaptation

Coastal Groundwater Dynamics

Faculty Profile

Michael Hydrolab

Google Scholar

ResearchGate

Wikipedia

Drinking Water Map Shows States With Most Contaminants

Scientists went hunting for freshwater deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean. What they found could have global implications

What Giant ‘Secret Fresh Water’ Deposits Off US Coast Mean for Drinking Water

Corn farmer says saltwater from the Delaware Bay is killing his crops

As coastal woodlands die to saltwater and turn into ghost forests, scientists study the causes and the pace

Saltwater intrusion leading to “ghost forests” along Delmarva’s coast

What is seawater intrusion? A hydrogeologist explains the shifting balance between fresh and salt water at the coast

Climate change could threaten Philly’s drinking water

This podcast is part of a self-paced, ongoing wellness community via the Canvas LMS platform for students at the University of Delaware. We'll feature topics related to all 9 Wellness Dimensions to help students develop critical skills and knowledge which will support their lifelong wellbeing.

Blue Hen Wellbeing Community

a-year-in-the-spotlight-university-of-delawares-most-notable-media-mentions-of-2025

Experts in science, politics, and pop culture weighed in throughout the year from the University of Delaware.

Director, Delaware Environmental Institute

Associate Professor, Marine Science and Policy

Associate Professor, School of Marine Science and Policy

Assistant Professor, Anthropology; Core Faculty Member, Disaster Research Center

Professor of Energy and the Environment Geography and Spatial Sciences; Biden School of Public Policy and Administration

Professor, Marine Science and Policy

 In 2025, the University of Delaware had many exceptional media mentions. Here are some of the most notable. 

Science  coverage dominated   Where will the next big hurricane hit? Ask the sharks. (The Washington Post) – Aaron Carlisle, a marine ecologist, was featured for his revolutionary work  using sharks to predict major weather events.  Scientists could soon lose a key tool for studying Antarctica's melting ice sheets as climate risks grow (NBC News) – Carlos Moffat, an associate professor and oceanographer, spoke about the national budget and how it's impacting climate research.    These Katrina Survivors Feel Overlooked. Now, They’re Using TikTok to Tell Their Stories (Rolling Stone) – Jennifer Trivedi, a disaster researcher, spoke about why Hurricane Katrina was such a major story.   Malala Yousafzai, Migration and Sustainability (Forbes) – Saleem Ali, a professor of energy and environment, contributed regularly to Forbes on environmental topics.   Scientists went hunting for freshwater deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean. What they found could have global implications (CNN) – Holly Michael, a professor of Earth sciences and civil and environmental engineering, spoke about the history of freshwater.   Engineering Professor Answers Electric Car Questions (WIRED) –  Willett Kempton, a professor of engineering, joined WIRED to answer the internet's most interesting questions about electric cars.   Plastic shopping bag policies are actually working, a new study suggests (CNN) – Kimberly Oremus, associate professor of marine science and policy, was featured in several major outlets on the effectiveness of plastic bag bans.   Insects are dying: here are 25 easy and effective ways you can help protect them (The Guardian) – Douglas Tallamy, an entomologist, was featured in dozens of outlets for his expertise.     Political news coverage was front and center   U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues Trump administration over $100,000 H-1B visa fees (NPR) – Daniel Kinderman, a political science professor, was interviewed for his expertise on a lawsuit involving changes in work visas.   The government shutdown is over, but expect more fights and higher insurance prices to come (Delaware Public Media) – David Redlawsk, a political psychologist, discussed the recent government shutdown and what an end to it signals.    Wrestling Over Charlie Kirk’s Legacy and the Divide in America (The New York Times) – Dannagal Young, a communications professor, commented on how media reacted to the death of Charlie Kirk.   Consequences for colleges whose students carry mountains of debt? Republicans say yes (NPR) – Dominique Baker, associate professor of education, was quoted in multiple national outlets for her education expertise.    General expertise came in clutch   Why the U.S. struggles with passenger service despite having the most rail lines (NPR) – Allan Zarembski, a professor of railroad engineering, was featured in dozens of national publications for his expertise.   From folklore to your front porch: The history of the jack-o'-lantern (NPR) – Cindy Ott, an associate professor of history, detailed the history of this autumn staple in multiple outlets.     Nexstar Media Group buying Tegna in deal worth $6.2 billion (AP) – Danilo Yanich, professor of public policy, noted the ways the media giant duplicates work across networks.   Warren Buffett hired Todd Combs to take over Berkshire's portfolio one day. Here's what close watchers say about his surprise exit. (Business Insider) – Lawrence Cunningham, director of UD's Weinberg Center, was featured throughout the year for his business and economic expertise.   Enlighten Me: How to make your holidays truly happy (Delaware Public Media) – Amit Kumar, a professor of marketing, discussed strategies for finding happiness during the holidays throughout the winter season.   Students and their stories shined throughout the year   Networking: Is it what you know or who you know? (The Chronicle of Higher Education) – UD's career-development office, which assists students on their job journeys, was featured.   U of Delaware Creates Yearlong Co-Ops for Business Students (Inside Higher Ed) – A new partnership with the state of Delaware connects business students to local employers, with the goal of reducing brain drain in the region was featured.   Wilmington’s 'STEM Queen' earns national Obama–Chesky honor (The News Journal/Delaware Online) – Jacqueline Means, a management information systems major, was featured for earning a national recognition.   Vita Nova Restaurant Gives Culinary Students Hands-on Training (Delaware Today) – The student-staffed restaurant, Vita Nova, was featured.   Delaware professor transforms writing class by teaching students to use AI as the technology reshapes the workforce (WHYY) – Matt Kinservik, a professor of English, was featured for teaching students to use AI responsibly, exploring its capabilities and fact-checking tools.  Pop culture experts weighed in 'Stranger Things' expert at UD chats about Netflix show's appeal (The News Journal/Delaware Online) – Siobhan Carroll, an associate English professor, sat down with a reporter to discuss the latest season and how the horror genre is often a mirror of our real world.   “Horrendous And Insulting”: Backlash Erupts Over “Misrepresentation” In 2026 Wuthering Heights (Bored Panda) – Thomas Leitch, an English professor, said that “literal adaptations of classic novels are exceedingly rare, maybe impossible.”  Major changes at UD highlighted  University of Delaware appoints interim president to the permanent post (The Philadelphia Inquirer) – News of UD's new president, Laura A. Carlson, was covered throughout the region.   Retiree learning center gets boost with $1M gift for downstate OLLI classes (Spotlight Delaware) – a large donation to the southern Delaware chapter of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, was featured.   To speak with any of these experts in 2026 on these stories or others, please reach out to MediaRelations@udel.edu. Happy holidays and cheers for a bright and healthy new year!   

A year in the spotlight: University of Delaware’s most notable media mentions of 2025

Researchers at the University of Delaware play a crucial role in the efforts to fight saltwater intrusion in the Mid-Atlantic region. Rising sea levels and storms are allowing salty water to infiltrate groundwater and soil, creating adverse effects for coastal farms, forests, and communities. "Salted Earth" interviews the scientists researching these impacts and informing resilience strategies, and farmers and leaders most affected by the changing coastal ecosystem. Research is led by UD Professor Dr. Holly Michael and the Delaware Environmental Institute's Coastal Critical Zone Network project. https://denin.udel.edu/

Salted Earth - UD Helps Battle Rising Sea Effects

Dr. Holly Michael
University of Delaware

Drivers and Impacts of Marsh Migration in the Coastal Critical Zone

November 2, 2022

FL22 GES Seminar Series with Dr.  Holly Michael

FME Seminar Series: Dr. Holly Michael, April 21, 2022

"Hydrological, biological, and geochemical linkages in coastal wetlands and their response to sea-level rise"

Abstract: We present field data from a temperate coastal wetland in the eastern USA that shows spatially and temporally variable linkages between hydrology, fiddler crab activity, and redox dynamics. We link these processes to carbon fluxes, both horizontal from the marsh to the tidal creeks and vertical from the marsh to the atmosphere. Using this connection, we simulate future changes in marsh zonation with relative sea-level rise and predict associated changes in carbon fluxes. Lastly, we consider hydrological, ecological, and economic implications of marsh migration into coastal agricultural lands as a result of encroaching storm surge.
 
Bio: Holly Michael is the Unidel Fraser Russell Career Development Chair in the Environment and Professor in the Departments of Geological Sciences and Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware. She is also Associate Director for Interdisciplinary Initiatives for the Delaware Environmental Institute. Her research interests include water resource management, coastal hydrogeology, groundwater-surface water interactions, and geostatistics.

Holly Michael - 3rd virtual seminar on submarine groundwater discharge

Delaware EPSCoR Researchers, Dr. Holly Michael (Hydrogeologist, University of Delaware) and Dr. Kent Messer (Behavioral Economist, University of Delaware), discuss sea level rise and contaminant transport. 

Watch more videos in Delaware EPSCoR's research series: http://www.epscor.udel.edu/Video/searise

Sea Level Rise and Contaminant Transport

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