UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Association of Water Students, in collaboration with the Penn State Water Council, will host the second annual water conference, “Penn State Water Conference: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Water,” on March 14–15 in the HUB-Robeson Center on the University Park campus and on Zoom.

The conference is an opportunity to share research, learn, be inspired and network across the Penn State water community. It will feature workshops, panel discussions, poster sessions, lightning talks and long-form presentations. Food and beverages will be provided, and there is no cost to attend. The deadline to register is March 1.

“The 2024 Penn State multidisciplinary water conference is a cornerstone of Penn State's commitment to addressing water challenges and collaborating towards sustainable solutions,” said Harman Singh, president of the Penn State Association of Water Students and doctoral student in geography. “We aim to bring together diverse perspectives from disciplines such as engineering, social sciences, health, climate and policy that are needed to tackle complex water challenges. This conference aligns with the University's strategic priorities, offering a vital platform for presenting research, facilitating critical discussions and fostering connections beyond academia to impact communities and policy.”

Singh and Andrew Warner, director of the Penn State Water Initiative, will give the opening remarks beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 14. Immediately following the opening remarks, Lee Kump, John Leone Dean in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, will introduce Courtney Jackson, who will give the keynote talk, “A World of Water - Challenges and Opportunities in the Coming Decade.”

Jackson earned her bachelor of science degree in geographic information science and her master of science degree in geography from Penn State. Since 2021, she has worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), primarily working in disaster recovery. She currently is the geospatial coordinator for FEMA’s Interagency Coordination Division (ICD), serving as program manager and support for geospatial specialists deployed across the nation.

Visit the Institutes of Energy and the Environment to view the conference agenda online. Email questions to Digant Chavda at dmc6948@psu.edu.