Evans receives ASCE Tipton Award

Dr. Robert O. Evans, professor and head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University, has received the 2013 Royce J. Tipton Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

The Tipton Award recognizes ASCE members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of irrigation and drainage engineering equipment in teaching, research, planning, design, construction or management. Evans was honored for his improvements in the design and evaluation of drainage systems, water table management, constructed wetlands and stormwater quality systems.

He received the award at the US Society for Irrigation and Drainage Professionals’ annual conference in Phoenix, Ariz. ASCE, the nation’s oldest engineering society, helped organize the event.

Evans has been head of biological and agricultural engineering at NC State since 2006. He also spent eight years as the department’s extension leader and has published numerous articles on water table management, water quality, wetlands, irrigation and drainage. He joined the faculty at NC State in 1992 after nine years working as an extension specialist for the university.

His other honors include the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers’ Hancor Soil and Water Engineering Award and the North Carolina Irrigation Award. He is a state-certified professional engineer and a member of ASCE, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the US Irrigation and Drainage Congress.

Evans received bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in biological and agricultural engineering from NC State in 1976, 1981 and 1991, respectively.