Answering the Big Questions Food, Water & Energy Resources Policy Symposium University of Nebraska April 13, 2011 Kathie L. Olsen, Ph.D. Founder, Managing Director ScienceWorks Affiliate Professor of Neuroscience Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study George Mason University Kathie L. Olsen, Ph.D. Founder, Managing Director ScienceWorks Affiliate Professor of Neuroscience Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study George Mason University You are here!

Humanity’s Top Ten Problems for next 50 years* 1.ENERGY 2.WATER 3.FOOD 4.ENVIRONMENT 5.POVERTY 6.TERRORISM & WAR 7.DISEASE 8.EDUCATION 9.DEMOCRACY 10. POPULATION Richard Smalley, Noble Laureate, Rice University* 1.ENERGY 2.WATER 3.FOOD 4.ENVIRONMENT 5.POVERTY 6.TERRORISM & WAR 7.DISEASE 8.EDUCATION 9.DEMOCRACY 10. POPULATION Richard Smalley, Noble Laureate, Rice University* Billion People Billion People Need both the “stovepipes” But even more importantly the CONNECTIONS/INTEGRATION Major role of university in solving these major societal challenges

WATER AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY Agriculture Irrigation Climate Change Energy Demographics Allocation Economics Sustainability Security Fishing Swimming Drinking Habitat Recreation Biological integrity National Science & Technology (NSTC) SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY Co-Chairs: USGS & EPA Purpose: Science issues and policy related to needed improvements in technology and research that will advance the goal of ensuring a safe and sustainable supply of water in the United States and sustainable supply of water in the United States for human and ecological needs. for human and ecological needs.

“Are the supplies of water for human and ecological uses sustainable for decades into the future? If not, how might we develop new supplies or better manage for sustainability? “ Questions addressed by NSTC Subcommittee On Water Availability & Quality, OSTP, Presentation 2003

Integrated Earth Observing System Integrated Earth Observing System Satellite Remote Sensing Data Aircraft Remote Sensing Data In Situ Data Sensors Aircraft Balloons Moored & drifting buoys Ships & Submarines MAJOR WORKING GROUP ON WATER IOOS: Artist ‘s depiction of various space air, and water platforms as Part off the IOOS

- Ideas - Concepts - Planning - Capability development development - Ideas - Concepts - Planning - Capability development development - Priorities - Budget - Strategic Planning Planning - DECISIONS - Priorities - Budget - Strategic Planning Planning - DECISIONS Top down (Agency management, OMB, Congress) Bottom’s up (academia, industry, agency S&E personnel) The Program Decision Process

Establishing Program Priorities Science Return Benefit to Society Mandated Program Appropriate for support govt, state, private Partnership Opportunity Technology Readiness Program Balance Cost/Budget Context Science Return Benefit to Society Mandated Program Appropriate for support govt, state, private Partnership Opportunity Technology Readiness Program Balance Cost/Budget Context Implementation Priority Criteria Science Priority Criteria

NSF: Water Initiative Water Sustainability & Climate Interdisciplinary Approach BIO GEO: Earth Science SBE ENG

2008 Water Science Forum Practical Cutting-Edge Technology for Water Services: Applications in Africa UNESCO USGov NSF STC & ERC

“Water is a Precious Resource* Jeff Raikes, CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Food/Agriculture Food/Agriculture Crop per Drop Crop per Drop Feed the Future Feed the Future Global Climate Change Global Climate Change Adaptation Adaptation Mitigation Mitigation Human Impacts Human Impacts Green-Energy Technologies Green-Energy Technologies Biofuel industry Biofuel industry Food/Agriculture Food/Agriculture Crop per Drop Crop per Drop Feed the Future Feed the Future Global Climate Change Global Climate Change Adaptation Adaptation Mitigation Mitigation Human Impacts Human Impacts Green-Energy Technologies Green-Energy Technologies Biofuel industry Biofuel industry *Proceedings of the 2010 Water for Food Conference

Feed the Future (FTF) USAID/USDA released “Feed the Future: Global Food Security Research Strategy (Dec 2011) Advancing the Productivity Frontier Transforming Key Production Systems Enhancing Food Safety & Nutrition Cross-Cutting Issues: Gender, Climate Change & Environment APLU/PURDUE/BIFAD/USAID/USDA Workshop at Purdue (Jan. 2011) Ken Cashman* & Shenggen Fan Speakers “A Research Strategy for Feed the Future” Summary of Discussions and Conclustions E-Consultation to Produce a White Paper –FTF Research Forum Washington, DC June 21-23, 2011 (co-with World Food Prize)

Major components needed to understand the climate system and climate change. Source: Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program Final Report, July 2003 Fig.2-5 Adapted from IPCC (2001a) Water & Agriculture Major Drivers

(Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook, 2002) U.S. ENERGY CONSUMPTION TRENDS THROUGH 2020

University of Nebraska Longtime Leader in Research in Water, Agricultural & Natural Resources Management Longtime Leader in Research in Water, Agricultural & Natural Resources Management Integrates Water Research with Education Integrates Water Research with Education Integrates Research with Policy Analysis Integrates Research with Policy Analysis Researchers have Flexibility Researchers have Flexibility Capitalize on breakthroughs and emerging area Capitalize on breakthroughs and emerging area Collaborate across disciplines, institutions & countries Collaborate across disciplines, institutions & countries Collaborate with industry and non-profits Collaborate with industry and non-profits Cultivate Interdisciplinary Expertise in Research and Education to Tackle World Challenge Cultivate Interdisciplinary Expertise in Research and Education to Tackle World Challenge Public Service and Education to the Community Public Service and Education to the Community

Ken Cassman’s Proceedings of the Water for Food Conference Nebraska can be a leader in “Future Water for Food Challenge”  Location Location Location  Western Edge-Great American Desert  Eastern Edge-Corn Belt  Irrigation Irrigation Irrigation  Derives $10,000 per capital from agriculture (more than any other state)  Nebraska’s Green Revolution based on new Science & Technology  Increase rate of gain in ethanol production compared with other states  Biofuel Industry new within last 15 yrs: 1.8B gals fuel =$3B yr, 1000 jobs and $1.5B in capital investment  Natural Resources Districts model for water management

Nebraska’s Role in Water & Water for Food Centers Regional intellectual centers –Education –Basic research Centers for innovation and technology transfer Role in regional economic development Role in workforce preparation –Partnerships with schools, other educational institutions Bridging the university community and the region’s industrial community through Innovation Campus

NSF Engineering Research Centers Promote partnerships among researchers –in different disciplines –between industry and universities Focus on integrated engineered systems & technological innovations that strengthen the competitive position of industry Graduates become well-rounded, professionally oriented engineers –global outlook, –experience in technological innovation –ability to assume leadership roles in industry, academe, and government Generation Three (Gen-3) Engineering Research Centers (ERC) –link discovery to technological innovation through transformational fundamental and engineered systems research –advance technology and produce engineering graduates who will be creative U.S. innovators in a globally competitive economy. –Gen-3 ERCs must have an international partner! Active ERCs: I

NSF Science &Technology Centers Integrative Partnerships program enables innovative research and education projects of national importance that require a Center mode of support –research, education, and knowledge-transfer goals –conduct world-class research in partnerships among academic institutions, national laboratories, industrial organizations, and/or other public/private entities create new and meaningful knowledge of significant benefit to society Deadline for Preproposals: May 30, 2011 All Active Centers Web Page: –

“The interaction of human activity with natural systems is a web of complex interactive and interdependent processes. If people or nature tugs on one part of the web, other parts of the web change, sometimes in unintended and unpredictable ways.” OSTP presentation, 2003 Or as Nebraskan Larry Dedic says: “For every action there will be a reaction”

There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew. Marshall McLuhan ( ) Marshall McLuhan ( )