UT researcher launches Water Assets Podcast to debate world water points

A UT researcher started a podcast on world water points as a novel approach to current the problems, that are sometimes discovered in additional formal codecs like analysis papers.

Bridget Scanlon, a senior analysis scientist at UT who research the affect of local weather variability and land use change on groundwater recharge, launched the Water Assets Podcast to debate essential water useful resource points equivalent to water shortage and meals safety with specialists within the discipline. 

“Individuals could not have time to learn (scientific) papers, so I believed this was a pleasant approach to talk what persons are doing (to deal with) completely different essential points,” Scanlon mentioned. “While you don’t have Powerpoint as a background or a crutch, individuals clarify ideas another way that folks could perceive higher.”

Scanlon mentioned she tries to explain present water points and the way they’ve developed over time throughout the context of local weather change throughout episodes. She mentioned she additionally consists of potential options for a number of the points.

“There’s typically a latency between when the science is completed and (when) it will get out,” Scanlon mentioned. “Generally individuals need a extra quick understanding of what’s occurring.”

For instance, Scanlon mentioned she recorded an episode on atmospheric rivers final November, however after quite a few atmospheric river occasions and flooding occurred in December and January, she needed to re-record the podcast episode.

“There are a variety of commonalities between completely different nations,” Scanlon mentioned. “We study rather a lot from wanting on the similarities and the variations between completely different areas.”

Michael Younger, a frequent listener of the podcast, mentioned he appreciates how Scanlon is exploring how each coverage and societies are affected by hydrology, and vice versa. 

“People and the selections people make have a major affect on the water sources we are able to anticipate (to have) going ahead,” mentioned Younger, a senior analysis scientist on the College. 

Podcast visitor Chris Funk, who was featured for his work on drought forecasting, mentioned he loved the considerate dialogue he had with Scanlon about methods to deal with local weather change, together with bettering forecasting and growing water storage.

Scanlon mentioned internet hosting the podcast has been time-consuming however rewarding.

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking as a result of my M.O. has simply been to write down papers, (however) I study rather a lot from the discussions I’ve with the scientists,” Scanlon mentioned.