AZUSA, CA—Rain Bird, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, announced today that it has partnered with Arizona State University’s (ASU’s) Global Institute of Sustainability to discuss sustainability and global water-scarcity issues at the upcoming Intelligent Use of Water Summit IX. Scheduled for September 3,
2008 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, the two-hour environmentally focused symposium will provide insight and perspective on the future of global water-management programs, policies, initiatives, trends, and strategies.
Moderated by John D’Anna, senior editor for The Arizona Republic, the summit is a unique opportunity for environmental and water management thought leaders to engage in an open-forum discussion about the challenges faced by citizens, corporations and countries as it relates to a sustainable water supply. The ninth Intelligent Use of Water Summit will convene the following panelists:
Doug Bennett – Water Conservation Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority (Las Vegas, Nev.); Charles L. Redman – Director, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University (Tempe, Ariz.); Patricia Gober – Co-Director, Decision Center for a Desert City and Professor, School of Sustainability, School of Geographical Sciences, Arizona State University (Tempe, Ariz.); Richard G. Little – Director, The Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy, University of Southern California (Los Angeles, Calif.)
“Our partnership with ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability is providing a forum to drive home the challenge and necessity of finding balanced solutions for the Earth’s present and future water needs,” said Rain Bird Corporate Marketing Director Dave Johnson. “Water is the resource that most affects human life, and keeping the planet’s water resources viable into the foreseeable future requires advanced water conservation and better water efficiency through education and innovation.”
Established in 2004 as a forum to further define the relationship between water conservation and landscape water use, The Intelligent Use of Water Summit series is an insightful examination of the current state of Earth’s most precious resource in the face of environmental uncertainty. Previous summit locations included Pasadena, Calif., Tucson, Ariz., Madrid, Spain, and Aix-en-Provence, France.
The Global Institute of Sustainability is the hub of ASU’s sustainability initiatives. The Institute advances research, education and business practices for an urbanizing world and houses the nation’s first School of Sustainability, which offers transdisciplinary degree programs that advance practical solutions to environmental, economic and social challenges of our day.
“The School’s location, in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, gives us a first-hand perspective on water-management issues and solutions as rapid urbanization pushes the region’s water resources to the limit,” said Charles Redman, director of the School of Sustainability. “Balancing limited usable fresh water supplies with population growth and sustainability is a global challenge, and it is forums such as these that help stimulate dialogue, innovation, and better stewardship.”
In addition to biannual Intelligent Use of Water Summits, Rain Bird devotes significant resources to its Intelligent Use of Water public education campaigns, which include The Intelligent Use of Water Award; a series of white papers; public service announcements; membership on the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the steering committee advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its WaterSense product labeling program; The Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition; partnerships with nonprofit organizations; development and support of elementary and middle school curriculums; and participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade®, an annual worldwide stage to communicate the need for water conservation.
Open to the public, the two-hour summit will begin at 9:00 AM MST and conclude with an audience question-and-answer session.