“Why I Do What I Do” – Bryan Brooks, Ph.D.

In the world of water research, Bryan Brooks, Ph.D., distinguished professor of environmental science, is a star. He is recognized as a Fellow in the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science, serves as editor-in-chief of the influential Environmental Science & Technology Letters journal and has been recognized among the top 2% most-cited researchers in the world.

In the field and with his students today, he’s often found working with communities to advance disease surveillance methods and track the presence of long-term threats like “forever chemicals” (PFAS). His work helps cities recognize the presence of disease and harmful chemicals before they impact community health and make plans to protect their residents. And it’s there that Brooks’ calling really lies — mentoring students, 
both undergraduate and graduate, to address a fundamental need for clean water around the globe.

Where did your interest in water research begin?

My grandfather was a pastor and then a missionary in the Philippines and Guatemala. I can remember him telling stories about drilling wells in the Philippines to try to provide clean water to communities. This was happening in the 1960s and 1970s.  His stories about serving others and drilling wells were really influential in increasing my awareness early on of the necessity of clean water and also of the realities that not all people have access to the same types of opportunities and water infrastructure. 

Then, as a student at Ole Miss, I took an elective class in aquatic science with a world-class faculty member. It was the most fascinating class I’d ever taken. I went to that professor after the class and I said, “Hey, I want to learn more,” and I ended up becoming involved in research with him. He really took me under his wing and became my master’s mentor after I graduated with my undergrad degree. I’ve tried to facilitate similar experiences for undergraduate students at Baylor.

How important is mentorship to you now?

It’s humbling now as I finish my 24th year at Baylor to think of all the students that I’ve engaged. It’s easy at Baylor to continue our  student-focused commitment — to engage students in experiential learning, through direct research and to get to know them with humility and interest in their goals. 

Baylor is a unique university, and we’re committed to doing great research, but also staying focused on teaching. So, for me, scholarship and research at Baylor have been quite integrated with student mentoring and teaching. And that’s a fantastic place to be.

It’s people — people and the planet we depend on. The realities of the world we live in are stark. Somewhere between 56% and 80% of global sewage still goes untreated. Water security is a concern for 70% of all people. I want to be able to honestly tell my children that I tried to do what I could to meet those challenges. Working with and for others is so fulfilling as we aim to support local communities here at home and around the world.