Alan D. Steinman, Ph.D.

Allen and Helen Hunting Research Professor
[email protected]
(616) 331-3749

Teaching

BIO 651: Emerging Issues in Water Resources

Academic Awards and Honors (select)

• Fellow, Society of Freshwater Science, 2021.
• Award of Excellence for 2017, National Garden Clubs, Inc. 2017.
• Keiser Distinguished Lecturer in Life Sciences, Ohio Northern University, 2016.
• Patricia B. Johnson Award for Leadership and Innovative Grantmaking, Community Foundation for Muskegon County, 2016.
• Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, 2011.
• Massapequa (NY) High School Hall of Fame, 2009.
• Outstanding Reviewer Award, Journal of Environmental Quality (JEQ), 2007.
• Environmental Excellence Award, Muskegon Area Environmental Coordinating Council, 2005.
• Joan Hodges Queneau Palladium Medal (as part of the Restudy Team) for restoration of the Everglades, National Audubon Society, 2000.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1999 Outstanding Planning Achievement Award: in recognition of the Restudy team's contributions to advancing the state of the art in the practice of water resources planning.
• Research Award for Foreign Specialists: To present research on long-term ecosystem research as guest of the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES), Tsukuba, Japan, 3/97.
• Best Student Paper: Northeast Algal Symposium. Woods Hole, MA. 1983.
• Phi Beta Kappa: University of Vermont. 1979.

Current Research

• Muskegon Lake Long-Term Monitoring
• Project Clarity: Restoring the Macatawa Watershed
• Bear Lake Hydrologic Reconnection and Wetland Restoration
• Plastic Debris as an Exposure Source for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Aquatic Biota Specific to Muskegon Lake
• Mining Matters: Predation Pressure & Water Quality in a Young Sand Mine Lake
• Church Lake Water Quality Assessment
• Groundwater in Crisis? Addressing Groundwater Challenges in Michigan as a template for the Great Lakes

Media

• Even in water-rich Michigan, no guarantee of enough for all, an article by John Flesher, Associated Press
• Great Lakes water levels are 2 feet lower than records set in 2020, a news report by FOX17, West Michigan
• A Grand Rapids lake and the consequences of Michigan’s road salt addiction, an article by Kelly House, Bridge Magazine
• Lake Michigan faces effects of climate change and coastal erosion, a news report by Ginger Zee, Good Morning America
• Microplastics: Separating Fact from Hype, a webinar for GVSU's Grand Forum
• Will the Recovery be Sustainable Business?, a COVID-19 webinar hosted by the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
• GVSU researchers investigate biological, chemical effects of microplastics, an article and video clip by Nate Hoekstra, GVSU
• With Embrace of the Waterfront, a New Era Comes to Muskegon, an article by Anna Gustafson, Rapid Growth Media
• WGVU-TV Newsmakers interview with Patrick Center on invasive species
• Michigan Blue Economy, an interview on WGVU's West Michigan Week
• Higher Water Levels in the Great Lakes, an interview on Stateside with Cynthia Canty, Michigan Radio (NPR)
• Muskegon Lake AOC Restoration - Recent Progress, presented at the 2014 Healing Our Waters conference (Al's presentation begins at 19:30)
• Toxic Algae, Water, and Climate Change, an interview by Peter Sinclair of Climate Denial Crock of the Week
• Michigan's Blue Economy, an interview on WGVU's West Michigan Week
• Are the Great Lakes Drying Up?, an interview on Here & Now, WBUR Boston (NPR)
• Blue Water Economy, presented at TEDx Muskegon
• Appearances on The WGVU Morning Show with Shelley Irwin:
  • September 9, 2022
  • July 8, 2022
  • May 13, 2022
  • March 11, 2022
  • November 12, 2021
  • September 10, 2021
  • July 9, 2021
  • May 7, 2021
  • March 12, 2021
  • January 8, 2021
  • September 18, 2020
  • August 7, 2020
  • May 8, 2020
  • March 13, 2020
  • January 10, 2020
  • November 8, 2019
  • September 13, 2019
  • July 12, 2019
  • May 10, 2019
  • March 13, 2019
  • September 14, 2018
  • July 13, 2018
  • May 11, 2018
  • March 9, 2018
  • January 12, 2018
  • November 10, 2017
  • September 29, 2017
  • July 14, 2017
  • May 12, 2017
  • January 12, 2017
  • November 11, 2016
  • September 9, 2016
  • July 8, 2016
  • May 13, 2016
  • March 11, 2016
  • January 8, 2016
  • November 17, 2015
  • September 30, 2015

Recent Testimony

U.S. House of Representatives. Subcommittee of the Interior. Invasive species and the Great Lakes. Washington, D.C. December 2015.

U.S. Congressional Briefing: Using Geoscience Research to Accelerate Innovation and the Coastal Economy.  Ecosystem Restoration in the Great Lakes Yields Significant Return on Investment. Washington, DC. November 2015.

General Information

Curriculum Vitae
Ph.D., Botany/Aquatic Ecology, 1987 - Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
M.S., Botany, 1983 - University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
B.S., Botany, 1979 - University of Vermont,  Burlington, VT