Meet the Speaker - Dr. Thomas Holsen

Save The River is honored to introduce Dr. Thomas Holsen, a distinguished leader in environmental engineering whose work is critical to understanding the chemical health of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system.

While much of our conference focuses on the visible beauty and ecology of the River, Dr.Holsen’s research takes us deeper into the microscopic challenges that affect everything from water quality to the fish we catch.

A Titan of Environmental Engineering

Dr. Holsen brings an immense depth of expertise to our community. He is the Jean S. Newell Distinguished Professor in engineering and a professor in civil and environmental engineering at Clarkson University. In addition to his teaching, he serves as the Co-Director of the Clarkson Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering and Sciences Lab (CAARES Lab).

With a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Holsen has dedicated his career to the study of how pollutants move through our environment. His impressive record includes over 250 publications and the successful supervision of research projects for other state and federal agencies.

Monitoring the Health of Our Fisheries

One of Dr. Holsen’s most vital contributions to the region is his role as principle investigatior for the EPA-funded Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program (GLFMSP). This program uses fish as biomonitors to ssess lng term trends in legacy contaminants and emerging pollutants.

Pioneering Solutions for PFAS

Beyond monitoring, Dr. Holsen is at the forefront of finding solutions for per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals”. He is a founder and Chief Technology Officer of DMAX Plasma, Inc., a company utilizing non-thermal plasma technology to actually destroy PFAS in water.

His current work includes several Department of Defense (DoD) projects and EPA initiatives aimed at validating “treatment-train” approaches to remove and destroy these stubborn chemicals from groundwater and wastewater.

A Career of Distinguished Service

Dr. Holsen is a Board-Certified Environmental Engineering Member of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. His professional activities have included serving as a reviewer for the U.S. EPA on pollutant sources in the Great Lakes, acting as a data reviewer for the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network, and mentoring students through innovative capstone projects, including international design competitions.

Understanding the chemical fate of our waters is essential for the long-term protection of the St. Lawrence River. Join us to hear Dr. Holsen explain how cutting-edge engineering is helping to identify and eliminate the hidden threats to our environment.

Event: Save The River’s 37th Annual Winter Environmental Conference
Date: January 31, 2026, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Location: 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, Clayton, NY