Interdisciplinary Programs

Water Science and Policy

A Message from the Director

 

Water is a valuable resource that is critical for the health, vitality, and long-term sustainability of all natural ecosystems. For humans, water plays an essential role in food and energy production, transportation, and recreation.

Worldwide, however, water resources are at a risk. Unsustainable population growth, land-use changes, pollution, and global climate change all threaten the distribution, quantity, and quality of the water on which all life depends.

Protecting and preserving our water resources requires that we take a “big picture” approach that addresses where water comes from, where it goes, how it travels, how it is used by living things, what’s in it, and how to remediate problems and develop policies to protect water.

The interdisciplinary program in Water Science & Policy educates students to address the complex challenges that we face today; to develop solutions that are socially acceptable, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable; and to be true stewards of our environment.

We invite you to join us in our endeavors to ensure that all of Earth’s inhabitants, now and into the future, have adequate supplies of clean, healthy water.

Dr. Shreeram Inamdar
Professor of Watershed Hydrology and Biogeochemistry

By choosing to study Water Science & Policy at the University of Delaware, you will be embarking on an exciting intellectual journey that will challenge you to synthesize knowledge from a number of different fields. No matter what aspect of water you choose as your research focus, you’ll be encouraged to look at how it intertwines with other natural and human aspects of water quality and quantity.

Latest News
  • 73-year-old Blue Hen and plant lover will get her degree at UD's commencement Saturday

    May 27, 2023 | Written by Krys'tal Griffin of Delaware News Journal
    Shirley Duffy of Newark, will receive her bachelor of science degree in landscape architecture from the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources during UD's commencement on Saturday, May 27. The landscape architecture major is all about plants, with an emphasis on the environment and how individuals can help others by teaching them about plants and helping them make their gardens successful, said Duffy.
  • Test before you taste

    May 17, 2023 | Written by Dante LaPenta
    UD plant science professors work with Delaware startup to create novel, rapid detection of foodborne pathogens.
  • Alumni, faculty and staff honored during 2023 Celebrating Excellence event

    May 11, 2023 | Written by Dante LaPenta and Lauren Bradford
    University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) crossed the street to Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus this May to celebrate alumni, faculty and staff. Interim Dean Calvin Keeler oversaw the recognition of 2023 award winners at the appropriately dubbed Celebrating Excellence event.