Delegate Dispatch
UCOWR news & updates
|
|
In this issue:
- Jerry Kauffman, Message from the President
- Strategic Plan 2024 -2027
- Conference 2024 Topical (Special) Sessions Call
- NIWR Special Issue - Call for Papers
|
|
Message from the President |
|
Dr. Jerry Kauffman
Director, Delaware Water Resources Center, Institute for Public Administration
Associate Professor, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration
|
|
Happy New Year UCOWR!
As we enter 2024 and the 60th year of our existence I wish a Happy New Year to everyone out there in UCOWR! Our organization of close to seventy of the water degree granting and research institutions of higher learning in North America is addressing the critical water problems of the day in flooding, drought, climate change, water pollution, and drinking water. You are educating and training young people for careers in water resources and helping them get good jobs. As we point toward the big fall water conference along the Mississippi that marks the 60th anniversary of the three prominent water organizations - UCOWR, NIWR, and AWRA – I think back over these years and marvel about how far we’ve come together. Our nationwide network of institutions and colleagues are doing the critical water work that makes for a civil society and you are making a difference. I’ll see you soon -see you in St. Louis!
Warmly,
Jerry
|
|
Vision Statement
Where do we want to be in three years?
UCOWR is an inclusive, inter-disciplinary organization that builds capacity for a diverse community of researchers, educators, and extension professionals to address complex water challenges regionally and globally.
Initiatives
What areas of growth will we pursue?
- Developing Creative Networking and Activities
- Building a Stronger Student Base
- Supporting Extension and Engagement
- Increasing Our Visibility and Membership
For a complete summary of the Strategic Plan,
|
|
In early November, the UCOWR home office staff and Board of Directors met in Chicago for a day and a half workshop. Our purpose was to create a three-year working plan to continue building our value and service to the water resources community of professionals. We developed language describing our 2030 vision for the organization (left), clarified organizational SWOTs (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), and brainstormed specific objectives with accompanying action steps and timelines. The group was able to drill down from an over-abundance of ideas to create focused, 100 day action plans for our objectives, with clearly designated individual people or teams working on specific tasks. We are excited to share with you our working plan for the next three years! |
|
Special thanks to Sonia Hall, SAH Ecologia LLC, who developed and advised us on the agenda and activities for our meeting, and Reanna Putnam, Program Manager for the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences, who generously stepped in at the eleventh hour to facilitate the weekend when Sonia came down with COVID. |
|
Delegates and students -
Enhance your CV, grow your network, and develop leadership skills by joining with UCOWR Board and staff to implement these Strategic Planning Initiatives.
We welcome your input!
Email us HERE to get involved!
|
|
2024 Conference - Call for Topical Sessions |
|
Submit your Topical Session Proposal by February 25, 2024
- A topical session organizer’s role is to propose a relevant and timely topic, recruit speakers to submit abstracts to the session, and moderate the session during the conference.
- Topical sessions can be in the form of a panel discussion, group of 4, 5, or 6 oral presentations on a specific topic, or participatory in nature (e.g., workshop or hands-on training).
- Multiple session track proposals are welcome.
|
|
NIWR Call for Papers - June 30, 2024 Deadline |
|
|
|
UCOWR and NIWR are partnering to publish a yearly Special Issue in the Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education (JCWRE).
This Special Issue is dedicated to the research, education, and extension/outreach activities of the 54 NIWR centers and institutes, all of which receive support from the USGS Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) program. The inaugural NIWR Special Issue was published in April 2023 (read here!) and we anticipate the next Issue to be published in December 2024. This Special Issue will include several feature articles on the 60th anniversary of WRRA, which was established in 1964. Dr. Jeff Peterson, Director of the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center, and Dr. Yu-Feng Lin, Director of the Illinois Water Resources Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, are the Special Issue Co-Editors. This is the perfect opportunity for you, your graduate students, and your undergraduate students working on these projects to publish their research!
|
|
To be considered for this December 2024 Special Issue,
Questions?
|
|
|
|
UCOWR is on LinkedIn
Follow us by clicking on the icon below -
invite your colleagues, too!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
