September 12, 2008

UNL researchers, students, and experts from government and private sectors will make presentations on a range of water-related topics on Thursday, Oct. 16, at Hardin Hall on UNL's East Campus.

More than a dozen presentations during the day-long event will focus on the latest research and innovative programming in the areas of water science, economics, policy and law, with a majority having a Nebraska-specific or Great Plains region-based focused.

"The water colloquium is one of the ways we try to present a large amount of university, government and private sector water-related research and programming in a short amount of time," said UNL Water Center director Kyle Hoagland.

The presentations and poster sessions begin with U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Gerald Bawden talking on how new 3-D technology is improving research on aquifers and other geologic formations affected by water.

Later in the morning, UNO biologist Alan Kolok will talk about what steroids in Nebraska waterways are doing to fish and what that could mean for people, and UNL irrigation specialist Gary Stone will focus on how producers can stretch water supplies using limited irrigation cropping systems.

Afternoon highlights include Chad Smith of Headwaters Corp. speaking on simple modeling techniques for Platte River adaptive management success, UNL geoscientist Darryll Pederson on the relationships between groundwater, surface water and geology in the Nebraska Sandhills and UNL aquatic ecologist John Holz on his research into using non-toxic aluminum sulfate to eliminate toxic algae and improve lake water quality.

Information on the colloquium, including an agenda, brochure and registration information is online at http://watercenter.unl.edu.

Registration is $25 through Sept. 29 or $40 after that date. Students with I.D. can register for $5. Registration includes lunch and building tours. For more information contact UNL Water Center Assistant Director Lorrie Benson at (402) 472-7372 or e-mail lbenson2@unl.edu. For registration questions, call Jacki Loomis at (402) 472-7550.

Hardin Hall is located on the northeast corner of North 33rd and Holdrege streets. Free parking is on the north side of Hardin Hall.

The UNL Water Center, Water Resources Research Initiative and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources sponsor this event.

Steven Ress
Communications Coordinator
UNL Water Center