By Andi Anderson
Douglas Edmonds, a professor at Indiana University Bloomington, has received international recognition for his pioneering research on how rivers, floods, and deltas shape the land. His work explains how sediment moves, forms soil layers, and affects water and agriculture systems over time.
Edmonds studies sedimentary rocks, which store drinking water, oil, and natural gas. Indiana sits on thick layers of limestone and sandstone that supply wells, support farming, and hold up roads and buildings. Understanding how these layers formed and how they change is central to Edmonds’ research.
His innovative work has earned him the William R. Dickinson Medal from the Society for Sedimentary Geology. The award honors mid career scientists whose research is reshaping scientific thinking.
“The award means a lot to me because I’ve devoted my life to trying to understand how the environments where sedimentary rocks form actually work, and the processes and the physics involved in moving around the sediment that eventually creates those rocks,” he said.
What makes Edmonds’ work unique is his focus on physics, combined with real world field studies and computer models. His research helps scientists better understand rivers, floodplains, and the geological records they leave behind.
“I start with the physics of how water and sediment move. I connect this mechanistic view to deposition and erosion in environments in Indiana and elsewhere, and then, how that eventually influences the rock formation.”
One major focus of his work is flooding along the White River in southern Indiana. During a large flood in April 2025, Edmonds and his students placed soil sensors across farmland and used drone based LiDAR technology to map land changes before, during, and after flooding.
“Floods are powerful, the water flow can erode sediment, or, a big flood can bring a lot of sediment onto the landscape and deposit a layer,” Edmonds noted. “Which is it? The answer to that has profound implications for Indiana farmers.”
His findings suggest that some floodplains may be losing valuable topsoil during major floods. His team is studying where erosion happens and how farming practices may reduce losses.
“If you’re a farmer, planting decisions matter,” Edmonds said. “Our research looks at the connection between when fields lay fallow and what happens versus when they’re planted.”
With climate change increasing flood risks, Edmonds stresses long term planning.
“We need to know where water is now, but we also need to know where it’s going to be in 50 years,” Edmonds said. “The sources that we rely on for agricultural purposes or drinking water could change in our lifetimes.”
Edmonds also encourages students to pursue earth sciences.
“This is such an important time to invest in earth sciences,” Edmonds said. “Seeing what’s happening to our world, we need people who understand the way it works, and who can help us adapt to the future.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zms
Categories: Indiana, Education, General, Sustainable Agriculture, Weather