DWA 352 Junior Seminar: Water in the World: Issues, Conflicts, Prospects

Water is necessary for human survival and public health, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability. Water is a spiritual value, a human right, an economic good, and a natural resource. One billion people on our planet do not have access to the water they need. Escalating human population growth, concomitant climate change, and other environmental changes, poor management and emerging/(re-)emerging diseases are compromising the availability and quality of water resources even for those who have access. Political controversies over water, of various kinds, are mounting; some argue future wars will be fought over water. This course examines current issues, conflicts, and prospects, with respect to water resources globally, and how this issue will influence the health of humans, societies, and the planet.