Cerise Valenzuela MetzgerWater use and water conservation experts will rally at Chapman University Sept. 15 to discuss water shortages, policy barriers, opportunities for funding future solutions, as well as the related risk and crisis communication around water projects.
The one-day Water Abundance Conference features experts from industry, business and Chapman University to speak on water shortages and the significant impact water issues have on Orange County and communities statewide. Its aim is to reframe water use and its conservation to a vision of abundance and away from scarcity mindsets.
“Water is probably the least understood issue impacting Californians, and remedies will require vision, and risk and crisis communication approaches that fit the magnitude of the challenge,” says Lisa Sparks, host of the conference, founding dean of School of Communication, and McGaw Endowed Professor in behavioral sciences at Chapman University.
The conference will be moderated by Steven Greenhut, author of “Winning the Water Wars,” and senior fellow and western regional director at R Street Institute. Steve Sheldon, president of the Orange County Water District, is the kick-off speaker for the conference. Curt Schmutte, a consultant, will speak about the San Joaquin River Delta. The day’s four panel talks focus on engineering future solutions; the politics of water and water recycling and trading; and health, risk and crisis communication perspectives.
Registration is open to students, faculty and the community, for this free event in Beckman Hall, Room 404. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. The event includes a continental breakfast and lunch and is followed by a light reception. Visit the Water Abundance Conference site for a full schedule of panel talks and a full list of speakers.
About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university located in Southern California. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution and offers personalized education to more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars, and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Based in the city of Orange, Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. In 2019, the university opened its 11th college, Fowler School of Engineering, in its newest facility, Keck Center for Science and Engineering. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.
###
Media Contact:
Cerise Valenzuela Metzger, Director of Public Relations, cmetzger@chapman.edu
Desk: 714-289-3143
Mobile: 657-390-6760
