Professors and grad students organize on-campus water forum
The Fifth Annual Student World Water Forum gave students a “crash course” about global and local water issues Thursday and Friday.
Professors worked with a committee of graduate students to plan the event. Both graduate and undergraduate students gave a total of 74 oral presentations throughout the two-day forum, with themes ranging from climate change to contamination and agriculture.
While many students may find oral presentations boring, there are numerous reasons why the forum should matter to them, said Dr. Laurel Saito, a professor of natural resource and environmental science who assisted in planning of the event.
“We all use water, and we don’t even think about it,” Saito said. “There are so many places where this isn’t the case. By bringing up the problems of people in other countries, perhaps we won’t continue to take water for granted.”
While the Student World Water Forum (SWWF) held at the University of Nevada, Reno was an assignment for environmental science and hydrogeology students, the event is based around an actual event held annually across the globe.
The goal of SWWF was to focus on how water issues affect Washoe County while raising awareness about international issues. One presentation by Nicole Cutler explored possible environmental causes of high incidences of childhood leukemia in Fallon.
The forum wrapped up with keynote speaker Christopher Brown,of New Mexico State University. His speech focused on the political impact caused in regions where water is scarce, including the United States-Mexico border and the Middle East.
His depth of knowledge impressed Sierra Kreamer-Hope, a freshman neuroscience major.
“I’m glad I attended the forum,” Kreamer-Hope said. “Brown was able to look at water resource management from a new perspective and put forth unique ideas to these long-standing problems.”
Jasmine Vittori, a graduate student and member of the organizing committee, said the accessible nature of the information was one of the biggest perks of the forum.
“The forum is like a crash course in water,” Vittori said. “It’s convenient because it gives a lot of information in one period of time in one venue.”
While Saito was pleased with this year’s turnout, she said she hopes more people will attend next year.
“It’s important for all of us to have a say,” Saito said.
Kathleen Phelan can be reached at editor@nevadasagebrush.com.
BREAKOUT:
Water Quality/Waterborne Illness
-Industrialization, such as the ethanol production in Brazil or oil drilling in Ecuador, has led to water pollution.
-Diseases such as malaria and diarrhea can result from poor hygiene. Use and reuse of dirty water can foster disease.
-It can be difficult to purify water in many regions where there is a lack of funding, technology or proactive government.
Agriculture
-In parts of the world where water is scarce, it is often difficult to grow crops.
-Techniques such as dam building, migration chasing the rain or desalination of seawater can help create additional sources of water.
Contamination
-Chemicals such as arsenic, mercury and pesticides can infect water sources in areas as close as Fallon.
-This can have devastating effects on people who find themselves negatively affected by the lack of access to clean water.
Innovations and Technology
-Many new techniques are being developed to create more water for those in need
-One such idea is capturing fog and converting it into water.
Soils
-Some developed presentations in which they explored how water and soil are interrelated, and how one can affect the other.
Water/Waste Water Treatment
-Techniques are often developed to treat contaminated water in order to make it drinkable or useful.
-These techniques, such as rainwater filtration, have both limitations and possibilities that scientists are working to address.
Water Rights/Water Resources
-Lack of water can often cause both economic and political conflict.
-Learning how to manage water scarcity can ease tensions and create new sources of water.
Dams/River Systems
-Dams can benefit humans but have adverse affects on the environment.
-Work is being done to retain these useful tools but also to better their detrimental nature.
Climate Change
-Climate change can affect water sources, so scientists are trying to find ways to combat its effects.
-Theories exist that water usage can both affect and be affected by climate change. For example, dams create greenhouse gases.
Riparian Restoration and Conservation
-Land areas, such as those in Iraq, were once water-rich.
-Techniques are being explored to preserve what water still exists in regions across the world.
Aquatic Systems/Ecosystems
-Plants and animals have the capacity to affect people’s ability to use water.
-Efforts are being made to balance the interactions between humans and nature to benefit society.
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