Speaker
Sharon B. Megdal, Ph.D.
Director, Water Resources Research Center
The University of Arizona
Sharon B. Megdal is Director of The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), a Cooperative Extension center and a research unit in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is also a member of the AWRA Board of Directors and President of the Board of Directors at UCOWR. Her work focuses on water policy and management, on which she writes and frequently speaks. She also holds the titles: Professor and Specialist, Department of Environmental Science; C.W. & Modene Neely Endowed Professor; and Distinguished Outreach Professor. The geographic scope of Dr. Megdal’s work ranges from local to international. Projects include; comparative evaluation of water management, policy, and governance in water-scarce regions; groundwater recharge; and transboundary aquifer assessment. She is the lead editor of the book, Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Israeli-Palestinian and Colorado River Basin Water Challenges. Her policy columns and Reflections can be found at https://wrrc.arizona.edu/director. Dr. Megdal teaches the multi-disciplinary graduate course “Water Policy in Arizona and Semi-arid Regions”. Sharon Megdal serves as Board President, International Arid Lands Consortium and Board Member, American Water Resources Association and represents the residents of Pima County on the elected Board of Directors for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, also known as the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The CAP delivers Colorado River water to Central Arizona. Dr. Megdal has served on numerous Arizona boards and commissions, including the Arizona Corporation Commission, the State Transportation Board, and the Arizona Medical Board. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Princeton University.
Description
Many regions across the globe face what are called wicked water problems, which are complex challenges that are too big for readily identifiable and/or “standard” solutions. The reasons for this are many and can relate to underlying societal or political issues and differing viewpoints as to the causes and/or potential pathways to mitigating the challenges. It is often stated that the obstacles to addressing wicked water problems may be related to public acceptance rather than technological or economic factors. This webinar will focus on the similar but distinct wicked water issues faced in multiple geographic regions, including the Colorado River Basin and the Middle East. Implementing pathways to solving big water challenges requires interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches; the involvement of stakeholders is extremely important. The webinar addresses key process factors that contribute to mitigating wicked water problems, along with the value of sharing lessons learned.
Learning Objectives
- Examine specific wicked water problems in different areas of the world.
- Underscore the human element of addressing wicked water problems.
- Identify similarities of water experiences and pathways to solutions across regions.
Webinar Recording & PDH Certificate
Included with your webinar registration is access to a recording of the program and a fillable certificate to self-report your Professional Development Hour (PDH) credit. Your PDH certificate will be available to download once you complete the registration process and receive your confirmation email. Access to the webinar recording is available on AWRA’s Webinar Center and in the email you’ll receive from “Facilitation Team" following the webinar.