Edward Lo

Academic Background

Ph.D., University of Kentucky

• Major: Geological Sciences
• Dissertation: A Source-to-Sink Analysis of the Pantanal Basin (Brazil): Implications for Weathering, Erosion, and Landscape Evolution in the World’s Largest Wetland

M.S., University of Kentucky

• Major: Geological Sciences
• Thesis: Fluvial-lacustrine processes shaping the landforms of the Distal Paraguay Fluvial Megafan

B.S., Louisiana State University

• Major: Geology
• Concentration: Environmental Geology
• Thesis: Consolidation and suspension of mud from Lake Lery and relevance to wetland restoration in Louisiana

Research

Themes: sediment geochemistry, mineralogy, Quaternary geology, environmental justice.

Web page: www.grainsatrest.com

I employ a combination of fieldwork with laboratory analyses to assess environmental change
and its impacts on vulnerable communities in floodplains, particularly in the Global South. I
utilize laser diffraction particle size analyzers to rapidly quantify grain size distribution, which can
inform us about the hydrologic conditions that deposited the sediment. Energy-dispersive X-ray
fluorescence quickly provides the major elemental composition of a homogenous sample or
surface. X-ray diffraction is used to help characterize the clay mineralogy, which can help us to
determine rates of weathering processes. My research program has used these tools for
lacustrine and fluvial sediments from the Pantanal and eastern Kentucky, and I am looking for
new ways to apply these techniques to coastal environments. My research also prioritizes ways
to include underrepresented groups in geosciences by including Traditional Ecological
Knowledge and oral history interviews.

Teaching

I currently teach Environmental Geology labs (GEOL 1340) and Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
(GEOL 5142). Previously, I developed a special topics course entitled, “Geoscience and
Environmental Justice in Appalachia (EES 480/APP 300). I have been a graduate teaching
assistant for Environmental Geology, Sustainable Planet, Sedimentary Geology, introduction to
Appalachian Studies, and Earthquakes and Volcanoes.

Selected Publications

1. Lo EL, McGlue MM, Matocha CJ, Silva A, Rasbold GG, Kuerten S, Louzada RO,
   Haller KC. 2024. Pantanal Basin river muds from source to sink: compositional
   changes in a tropical back-bulge depozone. Sedimentologika, 2(1). DOI:
   10.57035/journals/sdk.2024.e21.1342
2. Lo EL, Silva A, Kuerten S, Louzada RO, Rasbold GG, McGlue MM. 2023. Source-
   to-sink controls on modern fluvial sands in the Pantanal back-bulge basin (Brazil).
   Sedimentologika 1(1): 1-18. DOI: 10.57035/journals/sdk.2023.e11.1152
3. Lo EL, Yeager KM, Bergier I, Domingos-Luz L, Silva A, McGlue MM. 2022.
   Sediment infill of tropical floodplain lakes: rates, controls, and implications for
   ecosystem services. Frontiers in Earth Science 10: 1-14. DOI:
   10.3389/feart.2022.875919
4. Lo EL, McGlue MM, Silva A, Bergier I, Yeager KM, Macedo HA, Swallom M, Assine
   ML. 2019. Fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary processes and landforms on the distal
   Paraguay fluvial megafan (Brazil). Geomorphology 342: 163-175. DOI:
   10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.06.001
5. Lo EL, Silva A, Bergier I, McGlue MM, Silva BLP, Silva APS, Pereira LE, Macedo
   HA, Assine ML, Silva ERS. 2017. Spatiotemporal evolution of the margins of Lake
   Uberaba, Pantanal floodplain (Brazil). Geografia 42(3): 159-173.
6. Lo EL, Bentley Sr. SJ, Xu K. 2014. Experimental study of cohesive sediment
   consolidation and resuspension identifies approaches for coastal restoration: Lake
   Lery, Louisiana. Geo-Marine Letters: 1-11. DOI: 10.1007/s00367-014-0381-3

Last updated: 8/28/2024