Graduate Education and Training at the Intersection of Water, Climate, Ecosystems, and People

Abstract:

Since 2010, an interdisciplinary group of researchers have worked with a talented and energetic group of graduate students at Colorado State University on issues at the intersection of water with climate, ecosystems, and people. Over 20 graduate students and 15 faculty from nearly a dozen Departments were involved. Research and training were offered in hydrology, ecology, economics, political science, biology, and atmospheric science. We mapped student research on a triangular conceptual framework. At the vertices of the triangle are climate, ecosystems, and people; water is at the center. Our guiding principle was that students should be trained along the sides of the triangle (e.g., climate/water/ecosystems or ecosystems/water/people) rather than at the vertices. We developed four new academic core courses and students engaged in significant collaborative research projects and professional development activities in addition to their dissertation projects. Student engagement and achievement was very high. In addition, vibrant new collaborations have emerged among faculty across the Departments involved.