Baylor University Hosts Big 12 Water Conference to Address Water Resource Issues and Collaborate on Research

September 22, 2016

Media Contact: Tonya B. Lewis, 254-710-4656

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WACO, Texas (Sept. 22, 2016) – Baylor University’s department of environmental science in the College of Arts & Sciences is hosting a select group of scientists at the second annual Big 12 Water Conference Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, through Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC).

The theme for this year’s conference, “Navigating the Food Water Energy Nexus in the Face of Change,” will focus on water use and conservation, climate change, groundwater sustainability, irrigation and water quality.

The conference is part of an ongoing effort among Big 12 universities to enhance research collaboration among faculty from member institutions and to increase the benefits to society and to address real-world problems and issues of emerging concern related to water and the environment.

The conference is designed to allow the participating scientists to plan collaborative research projects and scholarly writings as well as draft research and publication outlines as they convene.

“Though we often think of the Big 12 Conference in terms of intercollegiate athletics, robust and complementary expertise exists across the Big 12 universities in many disciplines,” said Bryan W. Brooks, Ph.D., professor of environmental science and biomedical studies and Big 12 Water Conference steering committee member. “Many parts of the world face significant challenges for sustaining the quantity and quality of water supplies. This timely conference brings together experts from each university to examine transdisciplinary water issues, and to facilitate cooperation and collaboration on critical challenges and opportunities for clean water.”

Keynote conference speakers and topics include:

Dr. David Sedlak, co-director of the Berkeley Water Center at the University of California, Berkeley
Title: "A Secure Water Future Awaits Proactive Cities"

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University
Title: "Drought, Fire and Flood: How a Changing Climate Affects Texas"

Dr. James P. Dobrowolski, national program leader with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Title: "USDA-NIFA’s Water for Agriculture: A mechanism to fund a broader portfolio in groundwater sustainability"

“Baylor University is pleased to host leading scientists and engineers from all Big 12 institutions. This conference provides and exciting opportunity to identify essential water quality and management issues,” said George Cobb, Ph.D., professor and chair of environmental science and Big 12 Water Conference steering committee chair. “Additionally, it is exciting to welcome to our conference two members of the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. David Sedlak and Dr. Danny Reible, as well as one of TIME Magazine's Most Influential People of 2014, Dr. Katherine Hayhoe.”

Big 12 Water Conference website. —>

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s oldest and largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments and 13 academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit www.baylor.edu/artsandsciences.