DIRECTOR, WATER RESOURCES CENTER
PROFESSOR, BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
The Water Resources Center has welcomed Dr. Bill Batchelor as the Center’s new director. Dr. Batchelor is a professor of biosystems engineering and Adjunct Professor in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences at Auburn University with expertise in crop simulation modeling, precision farming and irrigation. He served as dean of the Auburn College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station from 2010 to 2015.
“I’m excited to join the Water Resources Center, an organization that has made a significant impact in Alabama and beyond,” Batchelor said. “The Center has empowered citizens to monitor water quality in rivers, streams, and private wells; provided critical training in stream and watershed restoration; and developed watershed management plans that help farmers access federal cost-share programs for irrigation equipment.”
While serving as dean of the Auburn College of Agriculture, Batchelor helped establish the Water Resources Center in 2011. “I’ve closely followed the growth and impact of the Water Resource Center’s programs. What drew me to this role is the dedication of the WRC staff and the importance of the work they do. Looking ahead, I hope to expand the Center’s research portfolio to include studies on the economics of irrigation for Alabama farmers.”
As an agricultural engineer, Dr. Batchelor has spent his 35-year career working in water resources. “I’ve collaborated with an international team of scientists to develop computer models that simulate crop growth and responses to environmental stress, with a particular focus on water stress. My work has centered on understanding how water limitations affect crop yield, how to manage the associated risks, and how to mitigate those risks through optimized irrigation practices,” Batchelor said.
Before coming to Auburn, Dr. Batchelor was professor and head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Mississippi State University, where he also served as director of the Sustainable Energy Research Center, director of the Energy Institute and interim director of the Institute for Clean Energy Technology.
“It is a tremendous honor to be named director of the Water Resources Center at Auburn University,” Batchelor said. “The Center’s work reaches across the state and into national and international communities. I look forward to building upon the Center’s history of protecting clean water to support agriculture, ecosystems and communities and I am excited to lead a dedicated team committed to research, extension, outreach and collaboration. Together we will work to ensures our water resources are protected and wisely managed for future generations.”