Dr. Carl Zipper

FACULTY AFFILIATE   |   Global Change Center

Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science

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(540) 231-9782  •  czip@vt.edu

Carl Zipper, is professor emeritus of environmental science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1986, Zipper has improved the scientific understanding of water, aquatic biota, soil, and vegetation response to and recovery from Appalachian coal mining.

For more than 20 years, Zipper directed Virginia Tech's Powell River Project, which has supported research and outreach on environmental restoration of Appalachian coal mines. The Powell River Project involved faculty from multiple departments, colleges, and extension units, have expanded scientific and public knowledge of environmental processes on Appalachian coal mines, and have enabled more effective environmental restoration to occur.

The Powell River Project also included a Research and Education Center, a 1,100-acre facility that hosts outreach education programs for industry, agencies, and other parties interested in mine restoration methods.

Zipper has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, and outreach publications. More than 2,000 Virginia Tech students enrolled in undergraduate environmental science courses for which he served as instructor.

In 2012, Zipper, received Virginia Tech’s Alumni Award for Outreach Excellence.

Zipper received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. He is continuing his scientific writing and research activities.