Dr. Ann-Perry Witmer is a senior research scientist in the University of Illinois Applied Research Institute as well as a lecturer in the College of Engineering and College of ACES. She is the originator of the emerging discipline of Contextual Engineering, which uses the social sciences to more effectively apply technical solutions, particularly for societies outside the industrialized world. Her research and service work have brought her into close association with communities on five continents, investigating and applying engineering solutions to assist communities in obtaining safe drinking water supplies. In addition to her civil and agricultural engineering degrees from the University of Illinois, Dr. Witmer also holds degrees in journalism and art history from Boston University.