Earlier this Fall, MES Associate Professor Dr. Damon Hall and doctoral student Bryn Anderson hosted scientists and scholars from around the country for “Stakeholder-informed spatial modeling for hydrologic sciences,” a National Science Foundation-supported workshop. The gathering was held at Northeastern University’s Nahant, MA campus in conjunction with CUAHSI- the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc., and was a collaboration between Hall and Indiana University researchers Dr. Darren Ficklin and doctoral student Seth Adelsperger.
Right: Mill River in Taunton, MA.
Stakeholder-informed spatial modeling for hydrologic sciences is transforming how scientists study and manage water resources by bringing water managers, local communities, policymakers, and other affected groups directly into the research process. Rather than working in isolation, scientists collaborate with stakeholders to identify pressing water challenges, incorporate local knowledge into models, helping to ensure the results address real-world needs. This collaborative approach is increasingly vital as communities face growing water scarcity, climate change impacts, and competing demands for limited water resources.
“Each day had a very important element for me. Day one gave me ideas for how we could present the material, as well as the code to fast track some pieces of it (e.g., USGS streamgage data). Day 2 provided important insight into the facets of stakeholder engagement – but the emphasis on researching the parties and organizing them according to influence/interest/power and then trying to sort them out in the context of my own project was key.” – Workshop Participant
Fifteen doctoral students, post-doctoral scholars, and junior faculty from around the US gathered to learn comprehensive approaches to spatial modeling and stakeholder engagement in hydrologic sciences. Participants gained hands-on experience applying statistical techniques to large hydrologic data sets and integrating stakeholder engagement into model development and communication.
Dr. Damon Hall brought his Sustainability Science Lab to Northeastern University in 2023 with a joint appointment between the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences. Read more about his work in the recent Northeastern news feature here.
