Host: The WDRC Students Committee

Abstract:
The 16th century British historian and preacher Thomas Fuller once said: "We never know the worth of water till the well is dry." Fast forward to the 21st century, and dry wells, depletion of finite water resources and water scarcity are a grim reality for many around the world. What are we using and polluting all this water for? How do we measure that use? What are the implication of humanity's ever growing water footprint for human as well as planetary wellbeing? Are we good stewards of the world's precious water resources? Drawing from insights and examples from both science and practice, this seminar will take you on an engaging journey to explore the water footprint concept and how it can be used to address water's grand challenges.

Bio:
Dr. Rick Hogeboom is Executive Director at the Water Footprint Network (WFN), an international knowledge center based in the Netherlands that promotes fair and smart use of the world's fresh water resources using the water footprint concept. He combines this role with a professorship in the Multidisciplinary Water Management group at the University of Twente, The Netherlands, where he explores global water use and its impact on the environment, economies, and society. He actively works with a variety of stakeholders, including consumers, businesses, NGOs, governments, and investors, to develop solutions to the world's pressing water issues. Finally, Rick is a Program Manager at the Wetskills Foundation, where he leads and organizes international networking and learning events for future water leaders.