From left, Vijay Singh, 2016 Sigma Xi Outstanding Distinguished Scientist; Robert Chapkin, Sigma Xi chapter president; and Larry Johnson, chair of Sigma Xi Outstanding Teacher Awards Committee.

Sigma Xi, the research honor society at Texas A&M University, presented a scientist and a communicator with its top honors during the annual ceremony Tuesday, May 3. The society also recognized three Bryan-College Station teachers of math or science for their excellence in the classroom.

The Outstanding Distinguished Scientist award was presented to Vijay P. Singh, a Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M and holder of the Caroline and William N. Lehrer Distinguished Chair in Water Engineering in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

He is a world-renowned scholar in water research and education areas that include hydrologic science, hydraulic engineering, water-resources engineering, environmental engineering, and irrigation engineering. Singh has made original contributions and significant advances in kinematic-wave modeling, entropy theory-based modeling, stochastic modeling of hydrological extremes using copulas, hydrologic systems, point and non-point source water quality modeling, landfill hydrology, saltwater intrusion, groundwater modeling, hydrologic impacts of climate change, dam-breach modeling, watershed modeling, ecosystems management, risk and reliability analysis, and social engineering. Singh holds doctoral degrees from Colorado State University and The University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.