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Andrea Hicks

Andrea Hicks

Keith and Jane Nosbusch Associate Professorship in Engineering Education

My work focuses on the environmental impacts and sustainability implications of emerging technologies. The goal is to understand the environmental impacts prior to widespread adoption. I study emerging technologies because the earlier a technology is in the design process, the more degrees of freedom exist and the opportunity for change. I sincerely want to make the world a better place through engineering. In order to tackle wicked problems an interdisciplinary approach is required, as suggested by the three paradigms of sustainability: environment, economy, and society, expressed by the Brundtland Commission. I use industrial ecology tools such as life cycle assessment, and environmental systems analysis in order to generate new insight. For many technologies human behavior has the potential to greatly shift environmental impacts through adoption, use, and disposal of these technologies. Thus, I also use tools such as surveys and agent based models to better understand human behavior and its potential to influence environmental impact. The idea of Jevons’s Paradox or the Rebound Effect has been fundamental in my work. The adoption of new technologies also depends on the cost of the technologies, and thus it is critical to consider economic aspects as well, across the life cycle of the technology employing tools such as techno-economic assessment. By taking an interdisciplinary approach it is possible to better understand what the sustainability implications of new technologies are, and to make changes to reduce environmental impacts and in some cases advert disasters. My work spans the range from engineered nanomaterials to autonomous vehicles to closed loop food production systems, and everything in between.

Department

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Contact

Room 2208, Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Dr
Madison, WI

  • PhD 2014, Dept. of Civil and Materials Engineering, University of Illinois-Chicago
  • MS 2010, Dept. of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science, Clemson University
  • BS 2009, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University

  • Sustainability
  • Environmental systems analysis and optimization
  • Life cycle assessment
  • Agent-based modeling
  • Rebound effect
  • Environmental implications of technology
  • Engineering and sustainability education

  • 2024 RCSA, RCSA Scialog Sustainable Minerals, Metals, and Materials Mentor
  • 2024 U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium Participant
  • 2023 ACS, ACS CEI Award for Incorporation of Sustainability into Chemistry Education
  • 2023 Dept. of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick, Visiting Fulbright Scholar
  • 2022 College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Keith and Jane Nosbusch Associate Professorship in Engineering Education
  • 2022 OVCRGE, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Travel Award
  • 2021 College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Benjamin Smith Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching of Engineers
  • 2021 Laudise Medal for Outstanding Achievements in Industrial Ecology
  • 2020 RCSA/Sloan Foundation, Scialog Negative Emissions Science Fellow
  • 2020 Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Community-Based Learning Teaching Award
  • 2020 Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, Hanson Family Fellow in Sustainability
  • 2020 National Science Foundation, NSF CAREER Award
  • 2018 Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, Emerging Investigator Award
  • 2017 College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Grainger Engineering Institute Scholar Award
  • 2016 ISSST, Travel Award
  • 2016 OVCRGE, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Travel Award
  • 2015 ISIE , Travel Award
  • 2013 University of Illinois-Chicago, Chancellor’s Graduate Research Fellowship
  • 2013 ISSST, First Place Student Paper Competition
  • 2013 University of Illinois-Chicago, Graduate College Student Travel Presenters Award
  • 2013 University of Illinois-Chicago, Graduate Student Council Travel Award
  • 2013 University of Illinois-Chicago, Student Research Forum Graduate Sustainability Award
  • 2012 University of Illinois-Chicago, Chancellor’s Graduate Research Fellowship
  • 2012 University of Illinois-Chicago, Institute for Environmental Science and Policy Predoctoral Fellowship
  • 2012 University of Illinois-Chicago, Provost’s Award for Graduate Research
  • 2012 University of Illinois-Chicago, Student Research Forum Graduate Sustainability Award
  • 2011 L.G. Rich Water Environment Association, Fellowship
  • 2010 SETAC, Student Travel Award
  • 2010 CSETAC , Third Place Poster Competition
  • 2009 WERC, WERC Competition Second Place
  • 2005 Girl Scouts, Girl Scout Gold Award

  • Morris, M'onica Rodr'iguez,, Stanton, A., Blomberg, T., & Hicks, A. (2024). Human behavior outcomes at point of disposal of a biodegradable plastic cup at a US-based university campus. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 203, 107412.
  • Hicks, A., Ahn, S., & Kontar, W. (2024). Informing Emerging Mode Choice Decisions Through a Carbon Impact Calculator.
  • Chen, K., Wu, F., Li, L., Zhang, K., Huang, J., Cheng, F., Yu, Z., Hicks, A., & You, J. (2024). Prioritizing Organic Pollutants for Shale Gas Exploitation: Life Cycle Environmental Risk Assessments in China and the US. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(19), 8149--8160.
  • Bulson, E., Kontar, W., Ahn, S., & Hicks, A. (2024). Reduced travel emissions through a carbon calculator with accessible environmental data: a case study in Madison, Wisconsin. npj | sustainable mobility and transport, 1(3), doi--org.
  • Rodriguez Morris, M. I., Kontar, W., & Hicks, A. (2024). Use, reuse, and waste management of single-use products associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management.
  • Bulson, E. E., Remucal, C. K., & Hicks, A. (2023). End-of-life circulation of PFAS in metal recycling streams: A sustainability-focused review. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 194, 106978.
  • Feng, D., & Hicks, A. (2023). Environmental, human health, and CO2 payback estimation and comparison of enhanced weathering for carbon capture using wollastonite. Journal of Cleaner Production, 137625.
  • Bulson, E. E., Kontar, W., Ahn, S., & Hicks, A. (2023). Reduced Travel Emissions Through a Carbon Calculator with User-friendly Environmental Data.
  • Hicks, A., & Nergard, M. (2023). Sustainability infrastructure insights from a campus sustainability survey. Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, 3(1), 011004.
  • Hicks, A. (2023). Using counterintuitive sustainability examples in teaching life cycle assessment: A case study. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances, 19, 200165.

  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Spring 2025)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 421 - Environmental Sustainability Engineering (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Fall 2024)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Fall 2024)
  • G L E 421 - Environmental Sustainability Engineering (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 729 - Environmental Sustainability Tools (Summer 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Summer 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 494 - Civil and Environmental Engineering Decision Making (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Spring 2024)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 421 - Environmental Sustainability Engineering (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Fall 2023)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Fall 2023)
  • G L E 421 - Environmental Sustainability Engineering (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Summer 2023)