One Opportunity. A Community Changed.
Thomas came to VOTE SoAR through AGU Tex. Here's the work he's been doing ever since.
Thomas' Story
Through AGU Tex's Thriving Earth Exchange, Thomas didn't just apply his engineering skills — he used them to fight for the people who needed them most.
He volunteered as a Professional Water Resources Engineer and built a two-dimensional flood model using a rain-on-grid approach — simulating local rainfall as it moves across the ground — to identify flooding hotspots in the Fulton and McNab communities of South Arkansas. He used those hotspots, combined with information collected directly from local residents, to prioritize areas for further attention. He presented his findings to support community charrettes, flood education workshops, and awareness of mitigation strategies. His technical support contributed directly to VOTE SoAR's successful application for the 2026 Climate Smart Communities Initiative, supported by NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Those aren't opportunities that come to every engineer. He got them because someone believed that communities like ours deserve the same science that protects wealthier places.
Now, Through VOTE SoAR
Now, through VOTE SoAR, Thomas' flood maps are more than data — they're a tool for community power. The hotspot analysis he created is being used to prioritize real mitigation solutions in Fulton and McNab, co-designed with the residents who have lived with flooding for years.
His work gave VOTE SoAR something it had never had before: engineering data that validates what neighbors already knew. That combination, community knowledge and technical science together, is what South Arkansas has always deserved.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
What is AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange?
The American Geophysical Union's Thriving Earth Exchange connects communities with volunteer scientists and engineers to tackle real local challenges, from flooding to air quality to climate resilience. Projects are community-led: scientists come to serve, not to study. VOTE SoAR's flood resilience initiative is one of those projects.
Support AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange
Scientists volunteering their time make projects like Thomas' possible. Your support keeps this community-science model going.
Power the Work of VOTE SoAR
The partnership that harnessed Thomas' technical expertise now powers community organizing in South Arkansas. Your support keeps this work going.