Water Science Management NMSU

Meet the Researcher ?? Dr. Catherine Brewer Associate Professor, New Mexico State University We're thrilled to spotlight Catherine (Catie) Brewer, an Associate Professor in the Chemical and Materials Engineering Department at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Catie teaches courses on chemical engineering calculations, brewing science, and heat and mass transfer, while also directing NMSBrew (Brewery Engineering). As an affiliate faculty member of the Water Science Management NMSU graduate program, Catie actively collaborates with the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI). Her mentorship has led to the success of several master's and doctoral students who have explored innovative solutions in biomass energy and water treatment. Catie currently supervises four doctoral, five master’s, and about twelve undergraduate students. Notably, Hengameh Bayat secured an NM WRRI Student Water Research Grant for her project on wastewater treatment using byproducts from food waste liquefaction. This research aims to enhance the economic viability of hydrothermal liquefaction by harnessing nutrients and carbon from food waste. Catie's research centers on biomass utilization for energy and environmental remediation. Her team investigates alternative crops and agricultural residues to develop sustainable processes and products. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (BS in Chemistry, 2007) and Iowa State University (PhD in Chemical Engineering, 2012), Catie has authored over forty peer-reviewed publications and is actively preparing more manuscripts. She is affiliated with professional organizations such as the AIChE - American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Pink Boots Society. Catie has received several grants, including a recent award from the Department of Energy Sandia National Laboratory for her work on extracting rare earth elements. Looking ahead, Catie is excited about expanding research collaborations across multiple universities and enhancing educational initiatives related to alternative crops and agricultural engineering. She also aims to further develop NMSBrew as a vital resource for NMSU students and the New Mexico brewing industry!

Meet the Researcher ?? Blair Stringam Professor at New Mexico State University Blair Stringam is a dedicated professor in the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department at New Mexico State University, where he has been an affiliate since 2008. He passionately advises undergraduate students and participates in several graduate committees, focusing on helping students find fulfillment in their research and discover innovative water management strategies. With extensive involvement in the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI), Stringam has secured funding through the Faculty Water Research Grant Program. His research initiatives include developing models to understand the interaction between river systems and aquifers, as well as advancing software for remote water control to ensure timely water deliveries. Stringam specializes in irrigation, water measurement and management, sensor design, control systems, precision agriculture, and open channel flow modeling. He is currently developing two innovative technologies aimed at securing long-term water supplies. One exciting project involves creating a user-friendly, cost-effective, and highly accurate sensor for monitoring soil moisture. This advanced sensor, equipped with lasers, a micro-processing unit, and a radio transmitter, will enable users to monitor crop water usage directly from their smartphones. This research promises to empower farmers with real-time data for more efficient irrigation practices.

Meet the Researcher ?? Manoj Shukla Professor & Director, New Mexico State University We are thrilled to spotlight Dr. Manoj Shukla, a distinguished professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the director of ACES Global Programs at New Mexico State University. With extensive experience at the New Mexico Water Resources Institute, Dr. Shukla has contributed significantly to numerous water use projects, technical reports, and as an advisor for Student Water Research Grant recipients. Currently, Dr. Shukla is pioneering a project aimed at conserving water by leaving fields uncultivated, allowing for better analysis of soil health and cover changes. He is also innovating in water use efficiency for chile crops through a micro-gravity drip irrigation system, reducing evaporation losses. His research further extends to brackish groundwater, investigating the use of reverse osmosis concentrate for growing food and forage crops while examining its impact on soil and plant properties. With water scarcity becoming increasingly pressing, Dr. Shukla emphasizes the need for efficient water use to sustain agriculture in arid regions. He aims to model the soil-root-plant-atmosphere continuum to enhance nutrient uptake and develop new irrigation scheduling protocols for brackish water—aligning with USDA goals for food security. As director of ACES Global Programs, Dr. Shukla champions student and faculty-led international initiatives and works to attract a diverse student body. Mentorship is a cornerstone of his role; he guides five undergraduates, two master’s students, three doctoral candidates, two postdoctoral researchers, and one technician. Dr. Shukla earned his B.Tech and M.Tech in Agricultural Engineering from J. N. Agriculture University, India, and his PhD from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Vienna. His passion for water and salinity stems from their vital role in sustaining life. An accomplished researcher, Dr. Shukla has received 25 awards, secured funding for over 40 projects, published three books and more than 148 refereed articles, and is a fellow of the Soil Science Society - FoA. Join us in celebrating his impactful work! ??

Another great NMSU professor working with numerous CE students.

?? Today we wanted to share a copy of 'The Divining Rod' produced by The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NMWRRI) in April of 1981. In this volume of the news letter there are images from the 26th Annual NM Water Conference. November 4th through the 6th of this year we will soon have the 69th Annual NM Water Conference at the Buffalo Thunder Hilton Resort in Pojoaque, New Mexico and online! We look forward to seeing you there! ?? #ThrowbackThursday

Great job Brianne Donohue Callahan keep up all of the great work!! ?? ??

?? The Water Resources Research Institute is #Hiring!! ?? The Water Resources Research Institute is looking for talented individuals to join our team in FIVE exciting on-site roles: https://lnkd.in/g5tGg2ZW ~ Post Doctoral – New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NMWRRI) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is seeking one Post Doctoral Researcher who focuses on collaboration with agricultural communities to conduct a needs and capacity assessment. ~ Research Scientist, Assc – ?New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NMWRRI) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is seeking a Research Scientist Associate position to serve as a community liaison who will collaborate with agricultural communities to develop and assess alternative regional water management strategies in the face of drought. ~ Research Scientist, Assc - New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is seeking one Research Scientist Assc. position to serve as a hydrology specialist focusing upon water budget analysis and hydrologic modeling assessing the effects of the restoration practices on the major water budget components, and on surface flows, inundation, and sediment transport. ~ Research Scientist, Assc - ?New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is seeking a Research Scientist Assc. to serve as a community liaison that will collaborate with agricultural communities to develop and assess alternative regional water management strategies in the face of drought.\ ~ Systems Analyst, Sr - The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute is looking for a systems analyst senior, to analyze and manage organizational needs, and design, implement, maintain, and administer WRRI IT infrastructures. ?? Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/g5tGg2ZW #NMSU #HigherEdJobs #CareerOpportunities #WaterConservation #WSMNMSU #Agriculture #STEM

In honor of the recent #NationalCoffeeDay here is a very interesting look at the unique history and future of New Mexican coffee. This article provides some insight into the impacts of climate change on local access to Pinus edulis?trees?and local production of coffee within the state! Definitely worth a read! ?? https://lnkd.in/gayHhGhF

In honor of the recent #NationalCoffeeDay here is a very interesting look at the unique history and future of New Mexican coffee. This article provides some insight into the impacts of climate change on local access to Pinus edulis?trees?and local production of coffee within the state! Definitely worth a read! ?? https://lnkd.in/gayHhGhF

Meet the Researcher ?? Frank A. Ward Distinguished Achievement Professor, New Mexico State University Dr. Frank Ward, a Professor of water economics and policy at New Mexico State University (NMSU) since 1988, has collaborated with the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) for over 20 years on impactful projects. Notable among these is his work on drought in the Rio Grande Basin (1998-2002), which produced the publication Economic Impact of Alternative Policy Responses to Prolonged and Severe Drought in the Rio Grande Basin. He also contributed to the research project Water Right Prices in the Rio Grande: Analysis and Policy Implications, initiated in response to inquiries about the market price of water rights in New Mexico. Dr. Ward's research focuses on basin-scale economic development, effective population growth strategies, and designing international climate change mitigation treaties. He aims to create practical, affordable measures for aquifer protection, conservation, and sustainable water futures. He acknowledges challenges such as implementing cost-effective water conservation practices and developing resilient infrastructure for future climate risks. His expertise extends internationally, with projects assessing aquifers in countries like Mauritania, Costa Rica, and Kenya, and addressing economic impacts from drought and climate change, including sustainable solutions for the Ogallala Aquifer in New Mexico. As a Distinguished Achievement Professor, Dr. Ward has been recognized for his scholarly research, teaching, and mentoring. He was recently ranked among the top 2% of scientists globally by Stanford University and Elsevier. He is a Fellow of the Western Agricultural Economics Association and plays a key role in NMSU's Water Science and Management graduate program. Dr. Ward earned his Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees in Economics from Colorado State University. He draws inspiration from faculty with real-world experience, emphasizing the importance of applying knowledge to address pressing water-related challenges that affect communities and ecosystems. With over 118 peer-reviewed articles and contributions to two commercially published books, Dr. Ward's work exemplifies a commitment to impactful research and positive change in water resource management.