Wasatch Water: Ecosystem Services and the American Dream
This Praxis Lab examined water as both an ecological resource and a system shaped by science, engineering, economics, public policy, and culture. Field visits to Red Butte Canyon, water treatment facilities, and campus infrastructure connected classroom study with regional water management. Students organized survey, interview, and data teams to study campus water use, conservation practices, research, and undergraduate education.
The team produced a comprehensive assessment and plan for water use and management at the University of Utah. Students designed and analyzed surveys, interviewed campus experts, assembled a research database, reviewed infrastructure and landscape practices, and developed recommendations for conservation and green infrastructure. They also outlined an interdisciplinary water curriculum grounded in science, policy, the humanities, and practical stewardship, gaining experience in institutional research, stakeholder consultation, data management, and formal planning.
Instructors:
Jim Ehleringer
Kate Kopischke
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