By: Steve Ress
The University of Nebraska’s Water Resources Advisory Panel (WRAP) met for informal breakfast discussion at Nebraska Innovation Campus on April 25 to take advantage of members attending the Daugherty Water for Food Institutes’ global conference on “Catalytic collaborations.”
Among those at the meeting were incoming University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green, UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources associate vice chancellor Ron Yoder, dean and director of UNL Extension Chuck Hibberd and UNL vice chancellor for research and economic development (ORED) Prem Paul.
Green, who was transitioning into his role as UNL’s new chancellor at the time of the meeting, reported that virtually all of the new water quality faculty positions previously identified for hire within IANR have been filled. He also noted that Yoder would be announced as IANR’s interim vice chancellor in early May and that he hoped the search process for a new, permanent IANR vice chancellor could be completed by early 2017.
Hibberd said that UNL Extension would soon be hiring a new water quality educator to replace the retiring Sharon Skipton and noted that the formation of 18 extension issue-based teams that is currently underway will help the extension division better focus on the needs of all Nebraskans.
Paul noted that ORED was working on a new presidential initiative with UNL’s Agricultural Research Division that is focused on research at the nexus of water, energy and food.
Nebraska Water Center (NWC) director Chittaranjan Ray reported on recent research grant successes within the NWC, including a nearly $1 million U.S. Department of Agriculture/NIFA grant to participate in a regional study of the Ogallala Aquifer being led by Colorado State University. Ray also reported on two recent Nebraska Environmental Trust grants and noted that NWC, in conjunction with Extension and the Daugherty Water for Food Institute, would soon be hiring a new communications liaison position that will work closely with university clients and collaborators to identify areas of mutual interest and areas where UNL faculty may be able to assist them.
Lee Orton, president of the Nebraska State Irrigation Association, reported on the most recent Water Leaders Academy class and on recent water management collaborative discussions with the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance.