Podcasts by EWN - Engineering With Nature
For more than 10 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working on an initiative called Engineering With Nature that uses natural processes and systems to deliver a broad range of economic, environmental, and social benefits. EWN, as it is called, is developing and implementing nature-based solutions for infrastructure, engineering, and water projects.
EWN brings together a growing international community of scientists, engineers, and researchers, from all kinds of disciplines to collaborate on how best to harness the power of nature to innovate, solve problems, and create sustainable solutions.
This podcast tells their stories.
It’s a show about innovation and collaboration. It is about combining natural and engineering systems. And it is about amazing results for infrastructure, the environment, and communities. Scientists and experts will talk about how they are transforming traditional approaches to infrastructure challenges across the US and around the world by applying the principles and practices of EWN.
Sarah Thorne of Decision Partners has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the EWN initiative for the past decade, and, through this podcast, will share stories of the people, their unique collaborations, and a broad range of projects that exemplify the principles and practices of EWN.
We hope you’ll listen to the show and be inspired!
Further podcasts by USACE
Podcast on the topic Natur
All episodes
A Conversation with Florence Williams about The Nature Fix from 2023-12-12T16:27:17
Can nature make us happier, healthier and more creative? The simple answer is yes … and it’s been scientifically proven. In Season 6, Episode 10, hosts Sarah Thorne and Jeff King, Lea...
Listen
Advancing the Practice with New Guidelines for Thin Layer Placement from 2023-11-28T14:57:11
The USACE dredges more than 200 million cubic yards of sediments every year as part of their mission to ensure that ports and waterways remain open to traffic. In S5E6, we talked with Lt. Gen. Spel...
Listen
A Transformative Year for Designers Kotch and Derek from 2023-11-07T18:07:39
What happens when a world-renowned landscape architect from Thailand comes to the United States as Designer-in-Residence to work with an award-winning architect whose passion is what he defines as ...
Listen
A Conversation with Passionate Dune Stewards from 2023-10-10T16:54:23
If you've ever walked along a beach, you’ve likely noticed the dunes, the mounds of sand that have been formed by the wind. But have you ever thought about what those dunes do and how important the...
Listen
Preserving an Important Historical Island with Nature-Based Solutions from 2023-09-26T20:16:07
This episode starts with a story. In 1604, 79 members of an expedition from France, including Samuel de Champlain, came to Saint Croix Island off the shores of Maine and New Brunswick to set up a c...
Listen
Reflections on the Summer of 2023 and What’s Ahead for the EWN Program from 2023-09-19T20:23:30
As fall gets into full swing, we’re kicking off the second half of Season 6 of the EWN Podcast by talking with members of the EWN leadership team about what they’ve been working on and what’s ahead...
Listen
2023—The Worst Wildfire Season in Canada—What Can We Learn About Prevention? from 2023-07-25T21:39:20
In late June, while preparing for this episode, there were over 500 wildfires burning across Canada. Smoke from the wildfires was affecting millions of Canadians and Americans across a wide swath o...
Listen
Inspiring Action on Oceans' Role in Climate Change from 2023-07-11T17:18:42
“The Ocean holds the keys to an equitable and sustainable planet. Join the revolution to unlock innovative ocean science solutions.” That is the opportunity and challenge posed by the Ocean ...
Listen
Nature-based Coastal Resilience in Urban Settings from 2023-06-28T12:38:16
The City of Boston is experiencing climate change and taking action to build urban resiliency through their Climate Ready Boston initiative. In Season 6, Episode 2 of the EWN® Podcast, Host ...
Listen
Jeff's Vision for Expanding the EWN Lattice from 2023-06-13T20:35:08
The theme for Season 6 of the EWN Podcast is “Expanding the EWN Lattice.” Host Sarah Thorne is joined by Jeff King, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program, to discuss his new role as ...
Listen
Season 6 – The Engineering With Nature Podcast: Expanding the EWN Lattice from 2023-05-30T15:03
Get ready for an exciting new season of the Engineering With Nature Podcast! Season 6 of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast launches on June 14. Host Sarah Thorne recently caught up with J...
Listen
Building Coastal Resilience with Nature and Insurance from 2023-04-11T19:13
Climate change is increasing coastal hazards and putting people who live and work in coastal communities at risk. Host Sarah Thorne and Jeff King, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Prog...
Listen
Foundational Research on Rebalancing with Blue Carbon from 2023-03-28T18:46
Coastal ecosystems provide an essential part of the solution to global climate change, along with along with providing other benefits such as wildlife habitat and shoreline protection. Carbon that’...
Listen
Visionary Ideas for Restoring America's Estuaries from 2023-03-14T16:52
Over 40% of Americans—that’s 130 million people—live along the coasts of the United States. That high concentration of people is putting a lot of pressure on sensitive coastal ecosystems. Host Sara...
Listen
Celebrating the 30-Year USACE Career of Todd Bridges from 2023-02-28T20:27
This very special episode of the EWN Podcast features Todd Bridges, Founder and National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program. We’re celebrating his 30-year career and retirement from the US...
Listen
A Conversation about EWN, Innovation, and Leadership with LTG Spellmon from 2023-02-21T18:46
In this episode, Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon joins Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science and National Lead for the Engineering With Nature (EWN) Program, and host,...
Listen
Accelerating NBS Progress through N-EWN Multisectoral Collaboration from 2023-02-08T10:26
The Network for Engineering With Nature (N-EWN), introduced in Listen
Measuring What Matters from 2023-01-24T18:56
How do we measure what’s most important to us? And how do we translate those values into decisions about infrastructure projects so that they can deliver a diverse set of economic, environmental, a...
Listen
What do You Want to Know about Nature? The National Nature Assessment from 2023-01-10T20:59
We often hear of the plight of the polar bear or how monarch butterflies are dwindling. These changes are important, but just a small part of what’s happening with nature in America. Imagine if we...
Listen
Nature-Based Solutions from the Halls of the Exec Office of the President from 2022-12-13T16:14
What happens when a nation focuses on addressing the critical challenges posed by climate change by investing in nature? That’s what we’re talking about in Season 5, Episode 2, of the Engineering ...
Listen
ERDC Labs Collaborating on Leading Edge 3D Printing Nature-Based Solutions from 2022-11-29T20:14
Imagine scientists and engineers using 3D printing technology to create nature-inspired structures and to produce more effective, economic, and aesthetically pleasing solutions. In the premier epis...
Listen
Realizing the Value of Nature from 2022-11-15T19:05
Season 5 of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast launches on November 30. Host Sarah Thorne recently talked about highlights from Season 4 and what’s ahead for Season 5 with Todd Bridges, Senior Re...
Listen
Nature-Based Solutions to Landscape-Architecture Challenges from 2022-10-05T13:07
What happens when a world-renowned landscape architect from Thailand comes to the United States as Designer-in-Residence to work with an award-winning architect whose passion is what he defines as ...
Listen
How England's Environment Agency is Boldly "Mainstreaming" NBS Innovation from 2022-09-21T11:10:30
At least one in six people in England are at risk from flooding from rivers and the sea. Climate change means that sea levels will continue to rise, and the frequency and severity of floods and st...
Listen
Thoughtful Advice for STEAM/STEM Students from 2022-09-06T18:46:49
As students head back to class, Episode 8 of the EWN Podcast focuses on foundation of EWN—the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM/STEM). In several episodes...
Listen
Rivers as Resources to be Valued from 2022-08-23T14:00:15
Welcome to the summer feature podcast miniseries—EWN On The Road. As we teased in Listen
The Heartland Tour: Five Rivers in One Day from 2022-08-16T14:00:40
Welcome to the summer feature podcast miniseries—EWN On The Road. As we teased in Listen
The San Joaquin Valley: Past, Present, and Future, from the Air from 2022-08-10T17:53:42
Welcome to the summer feature podcast miniseries—EWN On The Road. As we teased in Listen
EWN On The Road: The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge: A Natural Landscape Revived from 2022-08-04T01:23:57
Welcome to the summer feature podcast miniseries—EWN On The Road. As we teased in Episode 5, in this special series, Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Ar...
Listen
A Conversation about Leadership and EWN with Brigadier General Kelly, Commander of the USACE South Atlantic Division from 2022-07-19T18:05:56
Leadership and vision are essential to implementing Engineering With Nature to create landscape-scale climate resilience. We’re focusing on leadership and EWN in conversations with two inspirationa...
Listen
A Conversation about Leadership and EWN with Colonel Gant, Commander of the USACE South Pacific Division. from 2022-07-18T18:00
Leadership and vision are essential to implementing Engineering With Nature to create landscape-scale climate resilience. We’re focusing on leadership and EWN in conversations with two inspirationa...
Listen
Coming Soon: Two Inspirational Conversations about Leadership and EWN from 2022-07-14T19:33:56
We’re really excited about our upcoming episodes 6 and 7. Tune in July 20th as we discuss leadership and Engineering With Nature with two inspirational USACE Division leaders – Colonel (P) Antoine...
Listen
Introducing the EWN On The Road Feature Podcast from 2022-06-28T16:00:53
Welcome to Episode 5! Today we’re kicking off the summer season with a road trip! Host Sarah Thorne is joined by Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army C...
Listen
Leveraging Federal Partnering to Infuse Nature into Urban Community Resilience from 2022-06-15T16:02:16
Welcome to Episode 4! We’re discussing the role of EWN and nature-based solutions (NBS) in addressing urban challenges to build community and regional resilience. Host Sarah Thorne is joined by new...
Listen
EWN Practice Leads Sharing Expertise through the EWN Cadre from 2022-05-31T20:10:23
In https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/high-energy-r...
Listen
High Energy Roundtable with the EWN Practice Leads from 2022-05-17T23:12:47
Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 4! EWN Practice Leads play a critical role in broadening and expanding the application of Engineering With Nature practices and nature-based solutions. Host Sarah Tho...
Listen
Scaling Up, Up, Up, with CSTORM and EWN from 2022-05-03T18:27:53
Welcome to the first episode of Season 4! Our theme is Up, Up, Up, with Nature-Based Solutions and we have a fabulous line-up of guests who are going to join us and talk about the climate change im...
Listen
Up, Up, Up with Nature-Based Solutions from 2022-04-12T14:56:54
We’re getting ready to launch Season 4 of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast in May. Host Sarah Thorne recently talked with Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science wi...
Listen
USACE, NOAA and the Value of Partnership from 2022-03-15T13:51:35
Nature-based solutions – or NBS – are front and center in major policy changes in the US (Listen
The Dreamt Land – Rebalancing the System from 2022-03-01T21:52:34
In this episode, host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Lead of the Engineering With Natu...
Listen
The Dreamt Land – California Water, Sustainability, and EWN from 2022-02-15T15:10:49
Bounded by two mountain ranges, the 450 mile long Central Valley dominates the middle of California and covers about 11% of the State. The Central Valley is divided into two parts: the northern ...
Listen
Plants as Eco-Engineers and Drivers of Community Resilience from 2022-02-01T19:36:43
Imagine if we could use plants to help solve complex engineering problems, while enhancing natural ecosystems. And what if we could use plants – and the process of planting – to restore damaged ...
Listen
Parks and Refuges Embrace the Future Through Adaptive Management, Planning and Partnerships from 2022-01-18T17:08:12
In our last episode,, Applying EWN Strategies at National Parks and Refuges, we featured a robust discussion about the significant impact...
Listen
Applying EWN strategies at National Parks and Refuges from 2021-11-30T22:29:27
Climate change and the imperative to take action now is top of mind following the COP26 United N...
Listen
Engineering With Nature for Safe and Livable Cities from 2021-11-16T20:27:06
How can Engineering With Nature approaches make urban landscapes more livable? In this episode, host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, the Army’s Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science...
Listen
The Next Generation Makes the Future of EWN Even Brighter from 2021-11-03T13:38:54
This episode exemplifies our theme for Season 3 –Creating the Future with EWN. Host Sarah Thorne and Jeff King, Deputy Lead of the Engineering With Nature program at the U.S. Army Corps...
Listen
Considering and Evaluating the Benefits of Natural Infrastructure from 2021-10-19T14:42:14
In Episode 1 we discussed the unprecedented opportunity presented by President Biden's January 2021 Executive Order, Listen
Special Engineering With Nature® Podcast: Follow-up to the Natural and Nature-Based Features Guidelines Launch from 2021-10-05T19:07:23
Over 700 people attended the live launch of the International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management on September 16, 2021. Host Sarah Thorne talks w...
Listen
Evolution of Nature Infrastructure Policy from 2021-10-05T14:41:43
President Biden's January 2021 Executive Order, Tackling the Climat...
Listen
Season 3 Trailer: Creating the Future with EWN from 2021-09-29T12:00:41
Season 3 of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast launches October 6. It’s been a big year for Engineering With Nature! Host, Sarah Thorne, recently talked with Todd Bridges, Lead Engineering Wit...
Listen
Special Engineering With Nature® Podcast: Natural and Nature-Based Features Guidelines Launch from 2021-09-04T14:24:48
After years of development and collaboration with 150+ contributors and authors, from 70+ organizations, from 10+ countries, the International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features...
Listen
Nature-Based Solutions for Infrastructure, the Global Sand Crisis, and Wealth Distribution from 2021-08-11T14:30:40
In Part 2 of Episode 8, our discussion continues with Todd Bridges, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature program at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; An...
Listen
EWN in the Pacific Region from 2021-07-27T21:12:31
Climate change is affecting the ecosystems that support life and everything we depend on. The United Nations declared 2021 to 2030 the ‘Decade of Ecosystem Restoration’, and there is a global ef...
Listen
Integrating EWN into Critical Watershed Projects in California from 2021-07-06T17:53:50
In Part 2 of Episode 7, we continue our discussion with Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Lead for EWN; and Kri...
Listen
EWN Collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources from 2021-06-22T20:34:28
From flood risk to extreme drought and wildfire, California is feeling the brunt of climate change impacts and is, by necessity, at the forefront of climate change innovation. In this episode, w...
Listen
Exploring How EWN Can Add Value to Climate Change Initiatives from 2021-06-08T19:04:19
In 2020, the United States experienced extreme droughts, wildfires, flooding, and a record number of hurricanes. What if there was a better way to monitor and prepare for these natural events, a...
Listen
How DARPA is Pursuing Nature-Based Solutions around the World from 2021-05-25T13:59:50
Seventeen hundred U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) bases around the world are subject to sea level rise, which has increased by seven to eight inches since 1900. Natural hazards, such as severe ...
Listen
EWN’s Synergies with the World Bank’s Approach to Natural Infrastructure from 2021-05-12T13:13:26
In 2020, natural hazards like storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires caused more than $200 billion in damage worldwide and the death of 8,000 people. Since 1980, there have been 285 weather and...
Listen
Building Resilience in Cold Regions with EWN® and Natural and Nature-Based Features from 2021-04-14T13:10:55
Climate change is having a significant effect on Arctic communities. The loss of permafrost and ice sheets, sea level rise, erosion, and many other factors are putting people living in coastal c...
Listen
EWN EXTRA! from 2021-03-31T13:28:22
In our next episode, we’ll be talking with Enda Murphy of the National Research Council of Canada and Sam Whitin of EA Engineering, Science and Technology about Building Resilience in Co...
Listen
Expanding the Practice of EWN® through Landscape Architecture from 2021-03-30T13:07:10
What happens when you bring engineers together with landscape architects and their students to work on real coastal resilience challenges in the field? What can the disciplines of engineering an...
Listen
Expanding Engineering With Nature from 2021-03-16T17:39:57
As the world emerges from the COVID 19 pandemic, infrastructure will play a key role in helping economies around the world recover. The World Economic Forum estimates $100 trillion dollars will ...
Listen
The Engineering With Nature® Podcast Season 2 launches March 17 from 2021-03-09T14:41:25
The Engineering With Nature® Podcast Season 2 launches March 17, and we’re pretty excited about the lineup.
Host, Sarah Thorne, recently talked with Todd Bridges, Lead Engineering With Na...
Listen
Collaborating with Academia to Develop Future Practice and Practitioners from 2020-10-27T13:13:08
In this episode of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast, our guests are Dr. Brian Bledsoe, Director of the Institute for Resilient Infra...
Listen
Collaborating with Industry to Promote Natural Infrastructure from 2020-10-20T13:00
The growing global population is putting a lot of pressure on the world's natural resources and its natural infrastructure – the forest, prairies, agricultural lands, estuaries, coasts, and wetl...
Listen
Protecting Fragile Coasts and Improving Community Resilience from 2020-10-13T13:00
Monica Chasten grew up in Vineland, NJ, close to the South New Jersey beaches where her parents and grandparents fostered her love for the coast. With a talent in math and science, she started l...
Listen
Incorporating EWN into Coastal Texas Resilience and Restoration from 2020-10-06T13:22:10
Dr. Edmond Russo, a 27-year veteran of the US Army Corps of Engineers, has a passion for innovation, especially identifying and pursuing new ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of water...
Listen
Assessing the Value of Natural and Nature-Based Features in Coastal Storm and Flood Risk Reduction from 2020-09-29T13:15:15
An ecologist by training, Dr. Michael W. Beck had been working on more traditional ecological solutions related to marine protected areas until Hurricane Katrina, when he saw that there was a re...
Listen
Collaborating to Create Wildlife Habitat While Restoring Islands and Improving Community Resilience from 2020-09-22T13:08:54
Growing up on an Island in the Puget Sound in Washington State, Paula Whitfield lived and played by the ocean, watching every episode of the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and divin...
Listen
Characterizing Storm and Flood Risk Reduction Benefits Derived from Mangroves During Extreme Weather Events from 2020-09-15T14:10:54
As an undergraduate student at the University of Florida, Tori Tomiczek’s interests in geotechnical engineering and fluid mechanics, plus her curiosity about how structures were impacted by hurr...
Listen
Using Natural Infrastructure to Increase Resilience for Military Installations from 2020-09-08T15:23:13
In October 2018, Tyndall Air Force Base just east of Panama City, Florida was directly hit by Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm. The damage was significant with over half of the buildings on...
Listen
Using Natural Forces and Sediment to Restore Coastal Marsh Habitat from 2020-09-01T13:00
In this episode, we’re talking with Jeff Corbino, Environmental Resources Specialist with the US Army Corps of Engineers, in the New Orleans District. Jeff is the Environmental Function Chief fo...
Listen
Celebrating the 10-Year Anniversary of Engineering With Nature® from 2020-08-25T13:00
On the 10th anniversary of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE), Engineering With Nature (EWN) initiative, we’re taking a look at its foundation, fundamental principles, applications to date,...
Listen
Celebrating the 10-Year Anniversary of Engineering With Nature® from 2020-08-25T13:00
On the 10th anniversary of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE), Engineering With Nature (EWN) initiative, we’re taking a look at its foundation, fundamental principles, applications to date,...
Listen
Engineering With Nature - EWN from 2020-07-13T17:46:51
Over the last 10 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working on an initiative called Engineering With Nature that uses natural processes and systems to deliver a broad range of econ...
Listen