Subject: Seminar - Solve critical water problems in agricultural, rural and
urbanizing areas

Description:
Water is becoming our most critical natural resource, and finding sustainable
solutions for water challenges will require the combined efforts of much of
the private and public sector workforce. We hope the interdisciplinary
nature of the this seminar will have broad appeal to students and will
introduce to them the many future possibilities, including higher education,
for contributing to an issue that affects the entire world. Thank you in
advance for distributing the below to your undergraduate and graduate
students on behalf of the University of Maryland Council on the Environment.

“Water for Agriculture: Linking social, economic, and biophysical sciences
to help solve critical water problems in agricultural, rural and urbanizing
areas”
Dr. James P. Dobrowolski
USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Computer Science Instructional Center, University of Maryland, College Park
4:00 PM Lecture in Room 1121
5:00 PM Green Reception in Atrium
Nearby parking is free after 4pm.

Abstract: Agriculture, across the value chain, is the greatest consumptive
user of water resources in the United States and around the world. Perhaps
the greatest challenge facing agricultural producers will be increased
agricultural production to meet rising demand in the face of limited water
resources. The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA)
Water for Agriculture science, education and extension/outreach (REE)
portfolio engages knowledge and technology, incentives, and policies to
promote appropriate decision making. It focuses on developing solutions for
water management that form a nexus across food, water, climate, energy, human
health and the environment. Funding will continue to be used to develop
technologies and tools for a broad group of stakeholders to sustain and
improve water availability. I will present NIFA’s systems approach to
public funding that links social, economic and behavioral sciences with
biophysical sciences and engineering to address water and watershed issues.

Biography: Jim Dobrowolski is a watershed scientist and National Program
Leader for Water and Rangeland and Grassland Ecosystems Programs. His
portfolio of competitive programs includes the Agricultural Food and Research
Initiative’s Water for Agriculture Water Challenge Area and management of
the National Integrated Water Quality Program, and he leads the agency in
developing a systems approach to water availability from working, rural and
urbanizing lands, rangeland and grassland ecosystem management and
conservation effects of cropland and grazing land practices. Dobrowolski
provides agency liaison to OSTP and he is one of the principal architects of
the “Agricultural Water Security” initiative for the Research, Education
and Economics (REE) mission area of USDA (now, Water for Agriculture) that
focusses on the need to maintain adequate water supplies to meet the food,
fiber, ecosystem and energy needs of an expanding population. Prior to
USDA-NIFA, Dobrowolski was a tenured teaching/research professor for 16 years
in watershed science (water quality and quantity) at Utah State University,
Logan (1984-2000), and a tenured extension/research professor studying the
effects of vegetation buffers on nutrient attenuation and other water-related
issues for seven years at Washington State University, Pullman (2000-2006).
Dobrowolski received his PhD in Hydrology and Watershed Management from Texas
A&M University, Master of Science in Rangeland Ecology from Washington State
University and Bachelor of Science from the University of California at
Davis.

Vicki Brewer
P: 301-405-7009
F: 301-314-0827
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CIRUN
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ConE

Contact Person: Vicki Brewer
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