UTSA | Catalyst 2020-2021
Introducing the Institute for Water Research, Sustainability and Policy UTSA has launched the Institute for Water Research, Sustainability
“Since its very inception, this institute has been designed as a
and Policy, bringing together faculty across UTSA to collaborate in
comprehensive and highly collaborative unit, with members across
the areas of water quality, water quantity, flood control and water
all disciplines representing every college at UTSA,” said Dr. Jose
policy. Researchers will study the effect of climate change on water
Lopez-Ribot, associate dean for research in the College of Sciences.
resources in the San Antonio area, South Texas region, I-10 corridor
“As such, the new institute is truly transdisciplinary in nature.
and the United States–Mexico border. They have future plans to
The institute places UTSA in a unique position to address water
expand their studies to include national and international water
challenges in San Antonio, Texas, and beyond, both in the present
issues and solutions.
and the future.”
“An institute based on water research is absolutely needed in the
The institute’s core faculty includes researchers from the College of
part of Texas where we live,” said institute director Dr. Saugata
Sciences; College of Engineering; College of Health, Community and
Datta, who is the Dr. Weldon W. Hammond Jr. Endowed Distinguished
Policy; College of Language and Fine Arts; and College of Education.
Professor in Hydrogeology. “There was a need for understanding water availability, quantity, and various other aspects of water in
“UTSA has a rich history of interdisciplinary collaboration in all
terms of public health and economics because water plays a big
areas related to water, which has strengthened our ties to the San
role in the economy of the city and state. The societal impact of
Antonio community and our region and has poised us to guide water
water issues is significantly important in a state like Texas.”
policies in similar regions,” said Dr. JoAnn Browning, dean of the College of Engineering. “This institute bridges multiple administrative
The institute will investigate multidisciplinary water issues such as
structures to enable cross-cutting research that will shape the future
hydro-terrorism and the food-water-energy nexus across regional,
of our cities and hometowns.”
national and international political boundaries. Students will have access to cutting-edge technology in various “UTSA is in a pivotal geographical and political junction as well as the
laboratories across campus that are now part of the center’s
future sustainability scenario,” Datta said. “UTSA is playing a big role,
umbrella of water research. They will also have the opportunity to
and one of the roles that can bring multiple scholars, researchers
participate in novel approaches to laboratory-, field- and modeling-
and students together is the theme of water. Water permeates every
based studies as they learn more about water science.
aspect of the disciplines at UTSA. I couldn’t imagine anyone better than UTSA to take the lead on water.”
The institute plans to offer certificate-level courses and will implement master’s and doctoral programs in the near future.
In addition to geopolitical water research, members of the institute will seek to understand the resiliency of San Antonio’s drinking water resources and coastal water resources. Researchers from various
“The Institute for Water Research, Sustainability and Policy is an essential resource for the San Antonio community,” said Dr. David
disciplines will study the effects of hydrological processes, flood
Silva, dean of the College of Sciences. “Our growing population and
control, water quality, human behavior, remediation, and impacts
ongoing drought issues demand creative, science-based solutions.
on human and ecosystem health arising from stressors on coastal
I am confident that the collaborative research coming out of this
water resources.
institute will positively impact San Antonio’s future.”
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