Kelly Albus, PhD

Kelly Hibbeler Albus, PhD
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science
kalbus@twu.edu

Albus is an environmental scientist, educator and community science leader whose work bridges research, teaching and public engagement. She joined TWU in Fall 2025 as an assistant professor of Environmental Science and teaches courses on water in a changing global environment, undergraduate capstone research and applied field methods to build skills for a future environmental workforce. Her research focuses on water quality, citizen and community science, and innovative strategies for engaging diverse communities in environmental monitoring and stewardship.

With a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of North Texas, Albus brings more than a decade of experience in academic, nonprofit and state agency settings. Albus is a fellow with the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment for her work with the Texas Stream Team, and a National Geographic Explorer. She is passionate about developing programs that connect classrooms to communities, create pathways for youth and volunteers to participate in authentic environmental research, and improve the accessibility of water quality science for all.

Beyond academia, Albus is passionate about connecting people with science. She has worked with educators, conservation groups and local governments to design citizen science networks, develop curriculum and host public workshops with groups like the Texas Children in Nature Network, Texas Master Naturalists, Texas Master Gardeners, Texas Native Plant Society and the Association for the Advancement of Participatory Sciences. Her independent publications also include field guides to Texas plants, birds, and wildlife, reflecting a lifelong dedication to natural history and public science communication.

Research and teaching

Albus’s research explores how citizen and participatory science can expand data collection for water resources while building public capacity to address environmental challenges. She is particularly interested in:

• Water quality monitoring and innovation – including low-cost, accessible sampling methods such as the OB Tampling program she developed with Texas Stream Team.
• Citizen and community science networks – building collaborations among schools, volunteers, municipalities, and researchers to improve environmental decision-making.
• Applied environmental education and management – developing applied research projects for restoration and conservation, with community outreach tools such as curriculum, training and maintenance programs, to engage diverse groups in science and environmental management.

Current grants and programs

Albus served as principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous externally funded projects supported by agencies such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. Projects include:

• ACCESS Water – creating statewide watershed education programs for middle and high school classrooms.
• Classroom2Community (C2C) – a National Geographic–funded initiative linking student-led water quality projects to community-level environmental action.
• Slingshot Challenge (Texas Lead) – empowering youth across Texas to design and share solutions for pressing environmental issues for the international Slingshot Challenge.
• Community-based watershed management – collaborating with partners on watershed protection plans, stormwater management, and urban green infrastructure.

Professional publications and positions

Albus has authored peer-reviewed publications in journals such as PLOS ONE and Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, and co-authored applied research reports for state and regional water agencies. Her presentations and workshops have reached national and international audiences, from the American Association of Geographers to the Citizen Science Association and the National Water Quality Monitoring Council.

Other positions:

• Citizen Science Fellow, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
• National Geographic Explorer, joining a global network of scientists, educators, and storytellers dedicated to advancing knowledge and conservation.
• Board Member, Texas Children in Nature Network
• Intern Trainer, Texas Master Naturalist Program