AWRA 2021 Annual Conference Presentations Highlight Engagement

Nov. 12, 2021
The American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Annual Water Resources Conference was held virtually this week, November 8-10, 2021. On the first day of the conference, WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal and Graduate Student Assistant Simone A. Williams presented at two separate sessions on different WRRC efforts. The AWRA calls its conference “one of the most diverse and inclusive conferences in water resources management,” making it an appropriate venue for the WRRC presentations. Megdal spoke about addressing wicked water problems through science diplomacy and dialogue. Using examples from WRRC activities, she illustrated how pathways to solutions to large complex water problems can be found through processes that respectfully engage disparate points of view in collaborative exploration of the issues. Williams described her research for the WRRC’s initiative, Diversifying Voices in Water Resources (DViWR), which reviewed and synthesized the literature associated with diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in the water sector. Her work focuses on increasing DEIJ in water dialogues to empower previously excluded, overlooked, or otherwise absent participants. Drawing from four theoretical constructs: discourse, diversity, equity, and social learning, Williams identifies conditions for engaging disadvantaged groups and righting injustices through empowered engagement. The goal of the research is a set of practical strategies to employ in when water-related issues are discussed.