My work, in formal classroom instruction, presentations to audiences of varied backgrounds, and written materials, centers on fostering understanding of water challenges and options for addressing them. As a faculty member and Director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center, I interweave my applied research, education, and engagement/outreach programs and design them to bridge academic and non-academic communities. I try to write and present materials that are understandable to broad audiences, and convene forums, such as the WRRC’s Annual Conference and Water Webinars, that are accessible to all, regardless of background.
Listening to and learning from others often inspire ideas for programs or publications. At the WRRC’s 2025 Annual Conference, Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Working Together in Times of Scarcity, there was focus on innovation and investing with impact, sharing good information in inclusive ways, and incentivizing changes that contribute to a more secure water future. These themes were fertile sources of inspiration. Inclined toward alliteration, I started jotting down words that began with the letter “i.”
WRRC Announces 2026 Annual Conference Topic
The working title of the WRRC 2026 Annual Conference is Commercial & Industrial Water Stewardship: Large Users and Our Water Future. The conference will be held April 14–15 at the University of Arizona Student Union in Tucson, Arizona, and its program will focus on the challenges and opportunities for water stewardship of large, non-agricultural water users in Arizona’s commercial and industrial sectors, such as manufacturing, mining, energy, and technology.
WRRC Water Webinar Explains Arizona Stream Adjudications
On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the WRRC hosted a Water Webinar featuring Jennifer Wendel, Assistant Director of the Arizona Adjudications Project within the Natural Resource Use and Management Clinic at the University of Arizona College of Law. Titled “An Overview and Update on Arizona’s General Stream Adjudications,” Wendel’s presentation aimed to help viewers understand a complicated process affecting many Arizonans and provided webinar attendees with a forum for sharing insights on the state’s water rights issues. Register for this October 6 webinar and stay tuned for details on other upcoming webinars!