ASCE has honored Bret M. Webb, Ph.D., P.E., D.CE, M.ASCE, with the 2023 Orville T. Magoon Sustainable Coasts Award for lifelong dedication and impact on coastal sustainability research, education, and practice.
Webb has been a champion for coastal sustainability through teaching, mentoring students, innovation in coastal engineering with nature-based solutions, and giving back to the coastal engineering community through serving in numerous professional leadership roles. His dedication to teaching and mentoring students is evidenced by numerous awards for Excellence in Teaching and Top Prof recognitions, and his support for 19 graduate students and 24 undergraduate research students over 12 years. His research areas of coastal resilience and nature-based solutions echo Orville Magoon’s passion to provide sustainable solutions that serve to strengthen coastal communities. His research awards focus on developing long-term solutions that are aligned with community needs and functionality given sea-level rise and changing storm climatology. His research gives back to the field of coastal engineering and advances the state of science in nature-based and sustainable solutions.
Webb selflessly serves the coastal engineering community. He serves on the U.S. Coastal Research Program National Academic Committee, which provides an academic perspective to this national initiative that is co-led by the USACE, the U.S. Geological Survey, and American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). The USCRP supports funding student-led coastal engineering research to build the next generation of the nation’s coastal experts, and Webb’s service has been instrumental in guiding this initiative. His service as chair of ASBPA’s Central Gulf Coast Chapter, COPRI’s Coastal Council, Alabama’s Coastal Foundation Advisory Council, and other professional committees is evidence of his dedication to sustaining the nation’s coastal engineering experts.
The Orville T. Magoon Sustainable Coasts Award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to sustainable engineering practices in managing shorelines and coastal infrastructure through research, design, construction, or management of the natural and built environment in the coastal zone. The award recognizes the balance of coastal values with project needs.
