The Penn State Water Council is hosting a set of theme-oriented discussion sessions designed to support faculty networking and coordination for interdisciplinary water-related research. We realize that this is during the summer period but are looking to help support your research needs. The goals of these sessions include: 1) increasing awareness of pertinent research across the university (past/ongoing); and, 2) stimulating discussion among faculty to help catalyze future interdisciplinary collaborations. These discussions will be used in drafting thematic strategy papers and fostering future research, identifying public and private funding opportunities, and advancing strategic partnerships.
This session will be inclusive of human and ecosystem health and involve environmental, medical, economic, and social sciences, and related law, policy, ethics, and equity. Topics will include but are not limited to persistent water quality challenges (e.g., nutrients and sediment), drinking water insecurity (e.g., access, affordability, and degraded quality from lead and other contaminants), contaminants of emerging concern (e.g., PFAS, pharmaceuticals, microplastics), water and health policy and governance, environmental justice, and ecosystem services. This session will begin with an initial plenary, followed by subsequent breakout rooms for: i) human health; and ii) ecosystem health.
For questions on the Water and Health session contact Heather Preisendanz or Shirley Clark and on the Water, Climate, and Resilience session contact Hong Wu or Alfonso Mejia.