FARES HOWARI
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Fares Howari is an environmental scientist, engineer, and an educational administrator. Prof Howari serves as a Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University. The College is currently educating nearly 1,700 students and offers seventeen majors leading to a bachelor’s degree and he is leading the College organizationally and financially. In his current role Prof Howari supports faculty and staff and is actively engaged in building community relationships and advocating for the College within the University and beyond. Prior to that, he served as Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS) at Zayed University, UAE for eight years.
Family Background and Education
Dr. Fares Howari, a distinguished and highly respected professional in the field of environmental sciences and water resources, hails from a culturally rich background. Born in North Jordan, he spent his formative years in a small town nestled along the border between Jordan and Syria, surrounded by the natural splendor of the Golan Heights, Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers, and the serene expanse of the Sea of Galilee.
Tracing his ancestral roots, Dr. Howari belongs to a lineage of Palestinian descent with an extension to North Africa. The historical backdrop of his family's heritage reveals a narrative of harmonious coexistence among individuals of diverse nationalities and religious backgrounds. However, the tranquility they once cherished was disrupted in the late 1940s, as regional conflicts unfolded, necessitating their displacement and the quest for refuge in new lands.
Despite the challenges his family encountered, Dr. Howari's personal journey embodies resilience and determination in the pursuit of knowledge and professional excellence. His upbringing in a region teeming with geographical marvels and shaped by complex historical events has undoubtedly influenced his profound appreciation for the intricate relationship between the environment and human well-being.
During his tenure in Texas, Dr. Howari dedicated his expertise to the in-depth analysis of water-related socioeconomic concerns in the US-Mexico border region, with a particular focus on the Rio Grande River. His astute investigations have yielded significant insights into this crucial realm.
Dr. Howari stands as an exemplar of professionalism, scholarly rigor, and unwavering commitment to his field. His vast contributions continue to shape the understanding of environmental science and its implications, leaving an indelible mark on the academic community and beyond.
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As an environmental scientist and water resources expert, Dr. Howari draws upon his unique background and deep-rooted understanding of the region's ecological dynamics to contribute meaningfully to his field. His work encompasses a broad spectrum of research and initiatives aimed at sustainable environmental management, resource conservation, and the preservation of water ecosystems. Through his extensive contributions to academia, research, and leadership roles, Dr. Howari has solidified his reputation as an eminent figure in the realm of environmental sciences. His unwavering dedication to advancing knowledge, coupled with his passion for environmental stewardship, continues to shape the discourse surrounding sustainable development and the responsible utilization of our planet's precious resources.
Dr. Fares Howari's personal and professional journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of education, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. His heritage, intertwined with the complexities of the Middle East, has provided a strong foundation for his remarkable contributions to environmental sciences, making him an inspiration to aspiring scholars and a catalyst for positive change in the realm of environmental conservation.
At home, Dr. Howari finds unwavering support from his esteemed wife, Suha, alongside their three remarkable children, Natalie, Yosef, and Adam, all residing in the vibrant city of Austin, Texas.
Dr. Howari's profound fascination with the enchanting beauty and historical significance of the Jordan River valley ignited his academic journey. He pursued his studies in Environmental and Earth Sciences, specializing in Environmental Geochemistry, at Yarmouk University. His Master's degree research centered on the comprehensive examination of environmental, geochemical, and sedimentological facets pertaining to both the Yarmouk and Jordan Rivers. Moreover, he extensively presented on hydro-political dynamics, encompassing not only the Jordan River basin but also the Nile River basin.
His exceptional capabilities earned him an invitation to the University of Texas at El Paso, USA, by none other than Charles G. Groat, the Former Director of the United States Geological Survey. There, Dr. Howari successfully completed his degree in Environmental Science and Engineering during the academic year 2000/2001. Subsequently, he obtained naturalized citizenship of the United States.
Career Path
In 2001, Professor Howari embarked on his postdoctoral career as a research scientist at Texas A&M University, focusing on the development of computer-assisted models for conducting impact and baseline risk assessments in support of scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports. Simultaneously, he expanded his expertise as an Associate Professor and contributed significantly to the Water Resources Graduate Program at the esteemed United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). Professor Howari's role also included membership in the Executive Committee and supervision of the Environment Society. During his tenure, he successfully spearheaded major research initiatives and completed numerous high-profile consultation projects.
Following six fruitful years at UAE University, Professor Howari returned to The University of Texas at Austin as a senior research scientist at the prestigious Bureau of Economic Geology. Additionally, he took on the pivotal role of Program Coordinator at the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy, solidifying his commitment to advancing knowledge in these critical domains.
Dr. Howari successfully transformed aspirations into tangible accomplishments, creating boundless possibilities and fostering a culture of success.
Building upon his extensive experience, Professor Howari assumed a tenured position at The University of Texas Permian Basin, where he skillfully coordinated the Environmental Sciences program. After four fruitful years at UT Austin and Permian Basin, he once again returned to the Emirates, taking on the esteemed position of Professor and Chair of the Department of Applied Sciences and Mathematics at Abu Dhabi University. In this capacity, he also assumed the directorship of the esteemed Center of Excellence of Environment, Health, and Safety (CoEHS).
In 2014, Dr. Howari made a significant transition to Zayed University, assuming the role of Professor and Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS). Demonstrating his versatile capabilities, he took on additional responsibilities in 2016 as the Acting Dean for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Throughout his three-year tenure, Dr. Howari adeptly managed both colleges, making substantial contributions to student recruitment, resulting in an impressive increase to 3,800 students, as well as fostering the growth of the faculty and staff, totaling 180 members. Driven by his unwavering commitment to excellence.
The Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers Period
In mid 1990s, Prof. Howari moved to El Paso, Texas in the US- Mexico border region, where he studied the Rio Grande River. He focused on salt and soil salination in the flood plain and agricultural area around the river. At that time, he worked with S. Miyamoto on the development of new remote sensing method to map the dynamic nature of soil salinity. In his publication, he demonstrated, management options to deal with the salinity problem of the region and explained how the quantity of water from the Rio Grande is important to the socio-economic sectors and development of the United States of America and Mexico border region. Prof. Howari evaluated hydro chemical in the Rio Grande water transport options from Elephant Butte, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, along the US–Mexico border. His studies investigated the hydrochemistry and management options to convey water from the main dam on the Rio Grande, Elephant Butte Dam, to El Paso del Norte Region. In this study he recommended the best water delivery option from the Elephant Butte Dam to Fort Quitman, whilst also identifying the associated environmental and economic impacts.
During his stay at the El Paso, Prof. Fares Howari dedicated his post-doctoral research studies on saline soils, irrigation water quality, and soil and water management. His research work focused on developing management tools to show how high salinity adversely affects biological functions in ecosystems and causes degradation of soil and water resource. To this end, Prof. Howari developed cost-effective methods and modelling techniques to identify and map salt-affected lands on a large field scale.
With Professor Miyamoto, he researched extensively the spectral properties of saline soils, including: the physio-chemical properties of saline sodic soils; irrigation scheduling for controlling salinity; salt tolerance of crop and landscape plant species; reclamation of salt and sodium-affected soils; soil and irrigation management in irrigated land; modeling of salts and water transport in semi-arid rivers; the disposal/reuse of saline wastewater and reclaimed water in arid and semi-arid regions.
Hyperspectral Research and Theories
Prof. Fares Howari has developed a keen interest in hyperspectral imaging and remote sensing for environmental analysis. Mainly because it is inexpensive and efficient technology and, when compared with traditional soil analysis methods, is relatively harmless to the environment. Over his career he has addressed some of the key challenges of the remote sensing sector through his research and is a renowned expert involved with solving problems associated with spectra unmixing. He has published several remote sensing and unmixing papers in highly reputable Scopus indexed journals, which have been peer reviewed by scientists such as Professor Bruce Hapke, the American planetary scientist, and specialist in bidirectional reflectance spectroscopy. Prof. Howari has also carried out and successfully delivered million-dollar remote sensing projects in the United States and Middle East.
More information- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-018-0460-z