Engineers Explain Everything
Timmy the Tree: Plant Detective (Phytoforensics)
Files
Description
Plants don’t talk, but engineers know how to make them tell stories. Dr. Joel Burken explains phytoforensics — a concept developed at Missouri S&T that uses plants to detect and monitor environmental contamination. Along the way, he also explains what environmental engineering is, what environmental engineers actually do, and why their work matters.
Document Type
Book
File Type
text
Document Version
Final Version
Publication Date
February 19, 2026
Language(s)
English
Editor(s)
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Publisher
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Publisher Place
Rolla, Missouri
Disciplines
Computer Sciences | Engineering
Rights
© 2026 Missouri University of Science and Technology, All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Burken, Joel Gerard, "Timmy the Tree: Plant Detective (Phytoforensics)" (2026). Engineers Explain Everything. 2.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/eee/2
