Global Institute of Sustainability

August 31, 2012

Dear Board Member,

Our August newsletter features Sustainability Scientist Nancy Selover, the State Climatologist for Arizona. Please feel free to email or call us with any questions or comments about this briefing.

Best regards,

Rob Melnick

Sander van der Leeuw

Executive Dean
rob.melnick@asu.edu
480-965-5233

Dean
vanderle@asu.edu
480-965-6214

  

Q&A with Nancy Selover »

Helping cities adapt to climate change

Nancy Selover is a Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability, a research professor at the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), and State Climatologist at the Arizona State Climate Office. As a climatologist with an interest in water supply issues, she is co-chair of the Drought Monitoring Technical Committee of the Governor’s Drought Task Force, a member of the Arizona Flood Warning System, a member of the Applied Climatology Committee of the American Meteorological Society, and Arizona’s state coordinator for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network, a nationwide citizen-scientist network of precipitation observers.

How did sustainability become part of your research focus?

The issue of sustainable water supply became immediately apparent in 2005 when I joined the Governor’s Drought Task Force as a member of the Monitoring Technical Committee. This group watches Arizona drought conditions statewide and guides the National Drought Monitor reports for Arizona. As a climatologist, I was acutely aware of the scarcity of water resources in desert regions, but as a part of this group I learned how the recharge rate of groundwater is highly variable across our watersheds. So, while the Phoenix area has access to renewable surface water from the Salt, Verde, and Colorado rivers, other parts of the state are not as fortunate. For them, water conservation and sustainable use are critical issues.

Read more »


Case Critical event asks whether widespread drought is indicator of climate change, Sept. 6

Nancy Selover headlines a panel of experts who will discuss the drought and its effects on our economy, agriculture, and water resources. RSVP now »


Multiple factors, including climate change, led to ancient Maya collapse

Sustainability scientist B.L. Turner II says deforestation, commercial trade, droughts, increased production drove humans away. Read more »


Children draw their feelings about future of water

The exhibit is part of ASU's Global Ethnohydrology study that looks into how younger generations view water insecurity. Read more »


Mayors of Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix to hold joint forum on sustainability, Sept. 25

ASU's Sustainable Cities Network, a vehicle for communities to share knowledge and coordinate sustainability efforts, laid the groundwork for this unprecedented event. RSVP now »


Viewing choices through a sustainable lens

Featured on the cover of this month's Sustainability, The Journal of Record, sustainability scientist George Basile frames sustainability as a human decision-making challenge. Read more »


Modeling reveals significant climatic impacts of megapolitan expansion

Sustainability scientists say in a new study on the Phoenix Sun Corridor, sustainable adaptation must extend throughout the entire climate system. Read more »


$3M NSF award to launch alternative energy research, PhD program

Sustainability scientist Willem Vermaas leads the IGERT Solar Utilization Network program with focus on biological conversion, photovoltaics, solar thermal, and sustainable policy. Read more »


SRP, ASU launch research grant to support renewable energy

College of Technology and Innovation undergraduates will investigate the use of algae to remove CO2 from coal-fired power plant emissions. Read more »


Growing use of nanoparticles raises questions for researchers

In a recent study, sustainability scientist Paul Westerhoff finds that nanoparticles common in our food and hygiene products eventually end up in natural systems. Read more »


Engineering grad's skills help set stage for growth of children's care home

Former TÜV Rheinland Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory intern Sage Lopez assists care home in devising and installing a net-zero solar energy system. Read more »


High-speed rail viable option for sustainable mass-transportation

Sustainability scientist Mikhail Chester reports results of a life-cycle assessment of the environmental effects associated with auto, air, and rail travel. Read more »


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