Centers and Large Facilities - Education and Outreach

Project Name: CUAHSI (Consortium for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc.)

Location:
1167 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 418, Arlington, MA, 02476
Contact Information: Jordan Read, Executive Director, CUAHSI, jread@cuahsi.org
Deanna McCay, Deputy Director, CUAHSI, Director of Education and Outreach, dmccay@cuahsi.org

Website:  www.cuahsi.org

Main Project description/purpose: To foster advancements in the hydrologic sciences, in the broadest sense of that term, by:

• Developing, prioritizing, and disseminating a broad-based research and education agenda for the hydrologic sciences derived from a continuous process that engages both research and applications professionals;
• Identifying the resources needed to advance this agenda and facilitating the acquisition of these resources for use by the hydrologic sciences community; and
• Enhancing the visibility, appreciation, understanding, and utility of hydrologic science through programs of education, outreach, and technology transfer.

Education and Outreach Mission and Goals

The CUAHSI education and outreach effort will empower our community of scientists and educators to more effectively transfer advances in hydrologic science to students, policy makers and citizens such that all make scientifically informed and sound choices concerning water-related issues affecting society.

CUAHSI’s E&O program will provide community members with support and opportunities to integrate their research with highly effective teaching and communication of hydrologic science to a broader audience. CUAHSI’s motivation for action is influenced by the national agenda to increase American competitiveness in STEM disciplines, in particular the hydrologic sciences; the increased need for citizens to understand water issues, resources and management; and a desire to ensure the results of hydrologic research are applied in the most efficient and effective manner. The need for better understanding of water issues is undeniable. Worldwide, 6000 children under the age of five die every day because of unsafe water and sanitation; 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to safe drinking water.  Water-related diseases are the single largest cause of health-related death in the world.  Water quality and availability is a growing concern in this country, not just in developing countries.  Students need to be trained in hydrologic science and engineering to meet the challenge of the growing water quality and availability problems.  Likewise, the public needs to have raised awareness of the seriousness of water quality and availability problems and the essential importance of hydrologic science in addressing them—this is the most compelling rationale for a public science education effort.

Primary Audience(s) served (i.e., high school teachers, college students, etc.)

Scientists, teachers (university through graduate levels), citizen scientists