Innovations at the Intersections of the Aquatic Sciences: Water Quality, Health, Materials, Technologies

The 2018 Gordon Research Conference on Environmental Sciences: Water will feature a program of leading researchers whose work strives to improve aquatic resources and protect public health. Traditionally this Gordon Conference has featured the frontiers of water quality research, with an emphasis on contaminant fate and impacts. However, as the field has evolved and matured, water quality scientists and engineers are wondering: How can we be more proactive? How is global change impacting water quality and resources? What is our role in a globalized society?

With these challenges in the environmental aquatic sciences, researchers are required to work at the intersections of traditional disciplines, especially as we strive to enrich our understanding of fundamental processes and develop solutions. For example, the production of food, energy, and material resources for the modern world relies upon new developments in separation technologies, water treatment, and systems engineering to meet the demand. The protection of water resources, particularly in areas vulnerable to global change, requires an understanding of chemical and biological phenomena from molecular to global scales. Exposures to hazardous chemicals can be mitigated by knowledge of human-environment interactions, and recent developments in new technologies could lead to opportunities to reduce exposures and remediate contaminated settings. The 2018 Environmental Science: Water GRC will feature a program of thought-provoking research in the areas of sustainable water and material resources, molecular processes in aquatic systems, chemical exposures and health outcomes, and new technologies for water.

The meeting chairs will begin their review of applications on March 5, 2018 due to deadlines with the associated GRS program. Acceptances will be made on a rolling basis at this time. Applications are highly encouraged before this date.