Thrust Areas for Research, Education, and Outreach
Research, Education and Outreach thrust areas are thematic cross-cutting initiatives around which the Water Institute
Affiliate Faculty joins forces to achieve Water Institute goals. Thrust areas provide broad outlines of emphasis areas
rather than narrow definitions of the Institute, and represent areas in which interdisciplinary collaboration is likely
to produce significant progress. Thrust areas are determined through an ongoing process which reflects current interests
of Water Institute Affiliate Faculty and Stakeholders.
Water Institute Thrust Areas (2007-2010)
- Development of alternative water supplies and storage
- Water treatment, wastewater treatment, groundwater remediation
- Water quality protection, management of groundwater recharge areas
- Water conservation, reuse, demand management
- Impacts of alternative energy on water resources
- Terrestrial and aquatic system linkages
- Land use change impacts
- Sustainable ecosystem thresholds
- Ecosystem restoration
- Extreme events (floods, droughts, hurricanes)
- Climate variability (ENSO phase, MDO)
- Climate forecasts
- Climate change (global warming, sea level rise, rainfall redistribution)
- Water policy and law
- Water marketing and pricing
- Social impacts and implications
- Public health
