Water Choices Forum II

LEADERS CALL FOR INFORMATION, BEST PRACTICES IN WATER CHOICES

Florida Earth Foundation Holds Second Water Choices Forum

at University of Miami Feb. 28

CORAL GABLES, FL (February 14, 2011) — The University of Miami will host the Florida Earth Foundation’s Water Choices Forum II on February 28 at the BankUnited Center Fieldhouse, 1245 Dauer Drive, on UM’s Coral Gables campus.

Florida faces many complex challenges around water quality and regulation; natural systems and restoration; and planning for growth, distribution, and treatment. During the first Water Choices Forum, leaders and experts from across the state called for expedited formation of a water ethic. The second forum, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 28, will examine and discuss the challenges and implementation of the EPA Nutrient Numeric Criteria and an exploration of the use of water credits across the state.

Several divisions of the University of Miami are engaged in the forum, including the Leonard & Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem and Science Policy, The Knight Center for International Media and the School of Communication. The event will be streamed online at http://knight.miami.edu

“The Abess Center is honored to support this event. Water resource management is a critical issue on a global scale, particularly as the effects of extraction for agriculture, industry and human consumption are exacerbated by pollution and climate change. It will take a concerted effort across disciplines and stakeholder groups to confront the challenges we face,” said Abess Center director Kenneth Broad, associate professor of marine affairs and policy at UM’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science. “This conference is an opportunity to bring diverse perspectives to bear on the policy issues regarding appropriate criteria for allowable nutrient levels and allotment of water credits.”

The mission of the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy is to create innovative, interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge the gap between science and environmental policy. The Abess Center is the nexus for flexible undergraduate and graduate programs, which gives students the opportunity to learn in a problem-solving context and gain substantial hands-on experience.

The Florida Earth Foundation, a collaborative partner with UNESCO and center of training and best practices in sustainability, has committed to a think tank approach to the forums. Participants will take an active role raising questions, testing definitions, and setting the agenda for emerging conversations.

“Our Foundation is committed to respond to calls for discussion and international best practices as we approach a period of big water challenges in our regions, in the courts, and in the industry,” said Florida Earth Foundation Board Chair, Ernest A. Cox. “Leaders and experts from all fields that deal with water want a place to draw on the best possible data, express their concerns, and seek consensus. Our board has made these forums our 2011 priority.”

The conference will include a diversified audience of water system managers, public officials, international experts, attorneys, law students, scientists, educators, videographers and documenters, and engineers. Their counsel will impact the Florida Earth Foundation’s compendium of online best practices and recommendations on the future of water in Florida. The Employ Florida Banner Center for Water Resources will also provide an update on the strong job and career connection to technical training and certification in the industry.

Fairfield Index, Inc. President Don Upton, a nationally renowned expert on regionalism and collaboration, will moderate the discussion. The Knight Center for International Media, based at the University of Miami School of Communication, will show an excerpt of its award-winning documentary on the subject of the world’s water crisis, One Water.

Thanks to sponsors, the event will offer international audiences the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.

Registration for the event costs $195, and includes lunch. Students with ID can register for free for limited seating. To register, or for background and notes from the first Forum, and details on CEU credits visit www.floridaearth.org or call the Florida Earth Foundation, 561-686-3688.

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The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of our diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world.

Florida Earth Foundation is missioned to bring people together through education, public outreach, and facilitation to ensure the future integrity of Florida’s environment and quality of life. This mission is carried out in by developing new and enhancing existing FEF programs, and by seeking out and funding qualified projects through the grants and initiatives. The Florida Earth Foundation is committed to the guiding principles of: non-advocacy, partner engagement, resource pooling (combining resources and collaborating with partners to avoid duplicative efforts in programs and projects), gap-filling (seeking areas of endeavor that represent gaps in programmatic activity and educationally-related infrastructure); and diversity.