Conference Luncheon Program Highlights U of A Research and Arizona Water Leadership
The WRRC 2026 Annual Conference is fast approaching. The speakers and presentations focusing on Water for Tech, Mining & Energy: Pathways to Arizona's Future will offer insights into the challenges and opportunities for water users in Arizona’s industrial sectors. Specifically, the luncheon program on Wednesday, April 15, will explore Research and Initiatives in Water, Tech, Mining, and Energy. Following acknowledgements and introductions from WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal, a recorded video presentation from the Honorable Katie Hobbs, Governor of Arizona, will be presented. Her remarks will provide highlights and insights into Arizona’s water future, including water policy relevant to tech and mining developments around the state.
After Gov. Hobbs’ video, Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Senior Vice President for Research and Partnerships at the U of A, will comment on the current U of A research and initiatives related to this year's conference: tech (specifically data centers and chip manufacturing), mining, energy, and water. Díaz de la Rubia’s work with the Office of Research and Partnerships helps expand the capacity of the U of A research enterprise by fostering purposeful convergence and building powerful collaborations across academia, industry, government, and communities.
Don’t miss this timely and engaging luncheon program, which will spotlight Arizona’s water future through the lens of innovation, research, and collaboration. Attendees will gain valuable insight from the perspectives of local leaders into how the state and the university are addressing the complex intersections of water, technology, mining, and energy. Registration is still open for both in-person attendance and the free Zoom livestream. Please join us for this important conversation!