News and Highlights

Utah State Today featured an article on the household survey by a consortium of Utah universities provides extensive scientific data on current residential water management and public support for a range of water policies.

With experts predicting rapid population growth and changes in weather patterns, the perceptions and behaviors of Utah residents will be a critical driver of water resource conditions and quality of life in the state. A survey of households by a consortium of Utah universities provides extensive scientific data on current residential water management and public support for a range of water policies.

Researchers from Utah State University and the University of Utah came together as a team under the iUTAH program, a $20 million interdisciplinary research effort funded by the National Science Foundation to study and protect the state’s water sustainability. More than 2,300 households were surveyed in Cache, Salt Lake and Wasatch counties in the summer of 2014. The survey collected detailed information about how local residents in distinctive neighborhoods use and think about water in their daily lives….

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The Herald Journal newspaper interviewed Melissa Haeffner, iUTAH researcher, on her selection to an all-women expedition studying climate change in Antarctica next year.

A Utah State University post-doctoral researcher will join climate scientists from around the world next year in what is being billed as the biggest all-women expedition to Antarctica.

Melissa Haeffner was selected to be part of a project with 77 other women called “Undisciplined: Leading Climate Solutions by Bridging the Sciences,” Dec. 2 to 21, 2016, which aims to build a network of women leaders in science and to raise awareness of gender under-representation in the sciences. The voyage will also form part of a documentary series exploring the role of women.

Because of her sociologist background, Haeffner said she didn’t think she’d make the cut competing with climate scientists when she submitted a video to Homeward Bound, the Australian-based group sponsoring the trip, explaining why she should go — but she did...

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Melissa Haeffner will participate in an all-women expedition to Antararctica next year. Eli Lucero/Herald Journal 

iUTAH collaborated with other EPSCoR jurisdictions this fall at two national conferences; the 2015 Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) annual conference, and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference.

This year’s SACNAS conference took place at the National Harbor just outside of Washington, DC, from October 29-31, 2015, and hosted more than 3,200 students and professionals. EOD Coordinator Ellen Eiriksson joined EPSCoR colleagues from Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Wyoming to staff an information table. In addition to sharing EPSCoR opportunities with attendees, 13 collaborating students were given the chance to network more closely with EPSCoR students from other participating jurisdictions at the conference. 

iUTAH also had representation at the AISES National Conference, held November 19-21 in Phoenix, Arizona.  With 1,800 participants each year, the conference attracts high school and college students, educators, professionals, tribal nations and tribal enterprises, universities, corporations, and government agencies. EPSCoR colleagues from New Mexico and Alabama gave out information on iUTAH programs and opportunities at a shared EPSCoR Booth.

Collaborations at both SACNAS and AISES are excellent examples of collective outreach and recruitment efforts. These efforts increase visibility while reaching a more diverse audience within EPSCoR. EOD Coordinator Ellen Eiriksson said that she hopes “experiences like these prepare and empower students attending conferences,” adding that “this was a first experience at a national conference for many of the students in attendance.” 

Over these first two years, collaborations have increased from five to 15 states participating. iUTAH EOD looks forward to continuing student recruitment partnerships like these at future conferences. 

Jennifer Pemberton, and iUTAH partner Utah Public Radio featured in Water Online.

Water and wastewater professionals don’t always get much credit for the pivotal role they play in keeping society running.  Just ask Jennifer Pemberton, a reporter who’s helping raise awareness about the water sector through her radio show “The Source.”

The article features the recent episode “Giving Thanks on Brown Friday” from “The Source.”

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Image credit: "Seattle Municipal Archives," Worker at Boundary Dam, circa 1970 © 1970, used under an Attribution 2.0 Generic license

The 9^th Annual Salt Lake County Watershed Symposium took place on November 18 - 19, in West Valley City, UT. This year’s conference included water quality experts, policy makers, environmental advocates, industry, academics, students, and the general public. Speakers and sessions covered a broad range of topics -- from general interest to technical -- with local, regional, and national relevance.

Besides having an informational table, iUTAH was well represented with collaborators from the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, and Utah State University all leading sessions.

Awards presented at the close of the conference, were based on voting by symposium attendees. Brian Greene and Maura Hahnenberger won the "Tony Award" for the most engaging presentation with their talk entitled "Don't Drink The Water? Testing Water Quality for Science and Outreach."

Other iUTAH winners included Gabe Bowen, Samantha Weintraub, and Yusef Jameel also won the “Sulu Award" for Best Science for their group presentation of "Water and Nutrients in The Urban Center and Surrounding Wildlands.”

This year's symposium had the largest attendance the event has seen to-date, with 35% of registrants being first-time attendees.

 Maura Hahnenberger and Brian Greene

In an effort to bring demographic and diversity issues to the forefront of iUTAHns’ minds, 72 participants met for an All-Hands Meeting in Salt Lake City. This year’s meeting was held on November 13, 2015 at the Natural History Museum of Utah.

In her opening remarks, iUTAH Project Director Michelle Baker discussed developments, activities, initiatives, and the positive evaluation from the Year 4 Reverse Site Visit with the National Science Foundation. She also recognized iUTAH as a catalyst for “communicating lessons learned, relationships forged, mindsets changed, and cultures transformed, ” urging participants to continue to communicate their successes to the iUTAH Project Office, and the greater community of stakeholders and constituents of which we are a part.

The morning keynote address was given by Pamela Perlich, Director of Demographic Research at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, at the University of Utah, who talked about understanding the changing demographics of Utah, asserted that “change is our constant companion.”

In a conversation after her talk, Perlich said “an important and urgent reality to consider is that we have new people in our community who are not being given a voice, not being given the opportunity to be a part of important decision-making processes. Their inclusion in our problem solving, in our creative processes, would lead us to better solutions more quickly.”

“Humans have solved problems long before there were markets, or money, or even numbers, let alone data,” said Perlich, adding that “Data is just information.”

In addition to formal talks, much time was devoted to networking and the sharing of information. Over lunch, iUTAH postdoctoral scholars Rachel Gabor, Melissa Haeffner, Krishna Khatri, and Erik Oerter gave updates on their work. The importance of dialogue and exchanges such as these were expressed in Melissa’s talk as she said, “you mention water in Utah, and people start talking.”

Later in the afternoon, Angela Enno, Program Coordinator with the Multicultural/Access and Diversity Center at Utah State University discussed collective identity. Her talk focused on promoting the participation of diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff in STEM fields.

Drawing on data from her work with the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Enno shared the preliminary results of interviews focused on measuring the importance of helping minority groups find communities in higher education.

The last part of the day was devoted to RFA breakout sessions, where thoughts, ideas, and actions were discussed.

The next iUTAH All-Hands Meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2016, and will be held in conjunction with the Spring Runoff Conference at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.