Water in a Changing World

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Water is essential for life on Earth and of crucial importance for society. Humans simply cannot advance without the sustainable management of our finite water resources, whether it is too much, too little, too polluted, or too political. Climate change, population growth, and wealth inequality have challenged water security globally, leading to food shortages, vulnerability to disasters, and even conflict. Can technology and data, climate adaptive management, private sector investment, and international treaties help us address these complexities and ensure a more sustainable future? In this course, we will study the science of water, how it is impacted by human actions such as climate change, and how compounding factors around water affect development and geopolitics. Through interactive lectures, country and region-specific case studies, and guest speakers, students will learn how hydrology and environmental change relate to nearly every aspect of our lives. Students will be encouraged to think critically about our complex water challenges and to develop innovative solutions that could address them. In addition to a global perspective, the class will focus on the Gulf region and small islands.