New OSU Program Aims To Smooth The Rough Waters Of Water Conflict

AGRICULTURE 

By Chris Lehman

Salem, OR  April 23, 2008 8:13 a.m.

Solving the world’s water problems may come down to technology and psychology.  That’s the idea behind a new graduate program at Oregon State University.  Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

Water is a valuable commodity.  And it’s one that people have been fighting over for centuries.  But how do you resolve those conflicts when lives are on the line?

OSU geography professor Aaron Wolf says it takes a combination of technical know-how and people skills.

Aaron Wolf:  “Anybody who’s dealt with water management of any scale or aspect knows intuitively that water management is conflict management.  So knowing how to speak different and listen different about water is a critical skill set.”

Wolf says those skills will be taught as part of the new graduate level water management program at OSU.  It’s one of a handful of such programs in the world.

The types of people who are likely to go after the certificate include engineers and hydrologists.

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