In 1998, ASU Professor Dave White, then a social sciences graduate student (pictured above), set out to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. The experience inspired passion and bolstered his commitment to ensure the sustainability of the lifeblood of the American West — the Colorado River.
Nearly two decades later, the Colorado River faces its most significant challenges in the form of a drought, climate insecurity and the overallocation of its water to seven U.S. states and Mexico.
How do we navigate the rapids of water management without capsizing under growing demand? White, who directs ASU’s Decision Center for a Desert City and is a professor in the School of Community Resources and Development, explains how to stay afloat.
White's talk is part of the ASU KEDtalks series. Short for Knowledge Enterprise Development talks, KEDtalks aim to spark ideas, indulge curiosity, and inspire action by highlighting ASU scientists, humanists, social scientists and artists who are driven to find solutions to the universe’s grandest challenges. Tune in monthly to research.asu.edu/kedtalks to discover how the next educational revolution will come about, whether space is the next economic frontier and more.
More Environment and sustainability
Driving green desalination
Wilderness survival TV show hosts, pirates and water treatment researchers agree on one thing: Most natural water sources are not safe for drinking. Among the many potential risks is the high salt…
ASU preservation facility serves as test bed for rooftop heat mitigation
A roof coating that uses thermal energy storage materials from Arizona State University spinout EnKoat is halting the heat in several ASU buildings — including a section of the university’s largest…
ASU Carbon Summit displays sustainability leadership, collaboration and ... electric motorcycles
This month, a student-led initiative brought government officials, entrepreneurs and nongovernmental organizations under one roof to discuss sustainable carbon solutions. The annual Carbon…