Meet EPA Researcher Louie Rivers III, Ph.D.
EPA researcher Louie Rivers III works on furthering the integration of social scientists into EPA’s Office of Research and Development. He also works on a cumulative impacts research project with region 2 and a solution driven research project in Crisfield, MD focused on coastal resilience.
Tell us about your background.
I got a bachelor’s degree in biology at Kentucky State University and a master’s and Ph.D. in natural resources at Ohio State University.
When did you first know you wanted to work in environmental science?
My grandparents on my dad’s side were farmers and we spent many summers with them as a child on the farm which I really enjoyed, and my dad was an extension agent, an agriculture expert that help’s small farmers to be successful. in the HBCU system which also introduced me to working with people around natural resource issues.
What do you like most about your job?
Working with other people, EPA staff and colleagues across academia and lay communities.
How does EPA science matter?
Providing rigorous science to support the broader EPA mission is incredibly important, there are many important decisions that need to be made regarding the natural environment and sound science to help inform those decisions is critical.
If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be doing?
Marking timber or working in a comic bookstore; or maybe a homemaker.
What advice would you give a student interested in a career in science?
Don’t disregard the humanities, science is just one way of knowing the world, it’s important to understand and respect other ways of knowing the world.
If you can have any superpower, what would you choose?
Super speed (the best power 😊).
You are stranded on a desert island; how do you use science to survive?
Hopefully, I’m stuck with other people, maybe I can help keep the vibes positive.
What do you think is our biggest scientific challenge in the next 20/50/100 years?
Climate change.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the researcher alone. EPA does not endorse the opinions or positions expressed.