In 1998, ASU Professor Dave White, then a social sciences graduate student (pictured above), set out to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. The experience inspired passion and bolstered his commitment to ensure the sustainability of the lifeblood of the American West — the Colorado River.
Nearly two decades later, the Colorado River faces its most significant challenges in the form of a drought, climate insecurity and the overallocation of its water to seven U.S. states and Mexico.
How do we navigate the rapids of water management without capsizing under growing demand? White, who directs ASU’s Decision Center for a Desert City and is a professor in the School of Community Resources and Development, explains how to stay afloat.
White's talk is part of the ASU KEDtalks series. Short for Knowledge Enterprise Development talks, KEDtalks aim to spark ideas, indulge curiosity, and inspire action by highlighting ASU scientists, humanists, social scientists and artists who are driven to find solutions to the universe’s grandest challenges. Tune in monthly to research.asu.edu/kedtalks to discover how the next educational revolution will come about, whether space is the next economic frontier and more.
More Environment and sustainability
Assessing the red alert on corals
As our planet continues to warm, rising ocean temperatures threaten coral reefs across the globe. But not all corals are created equal, and some may be able to withstand higher temperatures or longer…
Designing a more sustainable future with AI
Editor's note: This feature article is part of our “AI is everywhere ... now what?” special project exploring the potential (and potential pitfalls) of artificial intelligence in our lives. Explore…
ASU researchers incorporate data into decision-making for conservation efforts
Leah Gerber sees conservation as a crisis discipline — the work involved tends to be reactive, with the engaged decision-makers rapidly basing their guidance on the available information.“When you go…