Marquette Law School to host workshop on innovation in food, energy and water

May 8, 2017

MILWAUKEE — Marquette University Law School will host an interdisciplinary workshop, "Innovation at the Food-Energy-Water Nexus," on Tuesday, May 16, from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan St.

The workshop, which is sponsored by a grant from the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Water Equipment and Policy, will bring together experts from the fields of engineering, law, science and policy to examine issues and solutions within the connections between our food, energy and water supplies.

The workshop will examine how to overcome barriers to implementing innovative water solutions, stimulate ideas for academic research and drive the development of organizational policy and technology roadmaps. The event incorporates sessions on energy use, recovery, and minimization at water and wastewater utilities; groundwater; agricultural sustainability and food waste; and ethical considerations for stakeholders.

David Strifling, the director of Marquette Law School's Water Law and Policy Initiative, is the lead organizer of the workshop. Jeanne Hossenlopp, Marquette's vice president for research and innovation, will give opening remarks. Other speakers include:

  • Kevin Shafer, Executive Director, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
  • Jerad Bales, Executive Director, Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science
  • Glen Daigger, Professor, University of Michigan Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Pinakin Desai, Managing Engineer - Energy Conservation, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
  • Russ Rasmussen, NR Manager, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Matt Magruder, Environmental Research Manager, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
  • Timothy Griffin, Director, Agriculture Food and Environment Program, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
  • Jame Schaefer, Theology Department, Marquette University
  • Sarah Geers, Staff Attorney, Midwest Environmental Advocates
  • Michael Keleman, Manager, Environmental Engineering, R&D/Engineering, InSinkErator
  • Paul Block, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Registration for the workshop is open to the public and is available online; the registration fee of $50 is waived for attendees who are affiliated with organizational members of the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center.

Members of the media who are interested in attending, or arranging an interview with Professor Strifling, should contact Chris Jenkins in the Office of Marketing and Communication.