Arizona Water Resources Center's Sharon Megdal kicks off fall CATalyst CHATs series

Today

"Wicked water problems" is how U of A Water Resources Research Center Director Sharon Megdal describes Arizona's water challenges and solutions, a topic that she has been integrally involved with over the past several decades. Megdal shared her insights and expertise with attendees at the fall kick-off of the U of A Scottsdale Center's CATalyst CHAT series. Showing her deep knowledge of the topic, there wasn't a question raised at the event that she couldn't answer. 

As a testament to her industry connections, several of Megdal's former students and colleagues attended the event.

During her talk, Megdal invoked "i" words of inspiration as Arizona tackles an issue that has been front and center for the past several decades: innovation, information, investment, infrastructure, institutions, incentives, inclusive involvement, industry, impact and interactions. With her geographic scope spanning local to international, Megdal realizes the importance of these terms in addressing issues such as water management, policy and governance. She teaches a graduate course at the university and serves on the Board of Governors for the Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water, and Energy Security, the Leadership Team for the Colorado River Basin Water & Tribes Initiative, the Women in Water Diplomacy Network’s Global Leadership Council and Arizona Governor Hobbs’ Water Policy Council.

Those who are interested in learning more about Megdal and the Arizona Water Resources Research Center are invited to subscribe to the Weekly Wave newsletter. The most recent issue contains several highlights from her talk. 

Mark your calendar for our next CATalyst CHAT on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Fusion - a Future of Limitless Energy will feature Senior Vice President for Research and Partnerships Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, College of Engineering Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn and Professor of Materials Science Horst Hahn as they discuss the future of fusion energy and U of A's role toward commercialization.