K-State program will give young professionals skills to protect water resources

Kansas State University is poised to get young scientists and other professionals thinking about complex, public water resource issues and giving them the skills to do something about it.

K-State's Kansas Environmental Leadership Program is developing an interdisciplinary course and curriculum on environmental leadership and water. An environmental leadership class will be pilot-tested in spring 2011. Coinciding with K-State's emphasis on sustainability, the curriculum will focus on watershed functions and water quality issues.

The curriculum also addresses K-State's priorities to develop leaders and engage the broader community in that it emphasizes civic engagement and public participation in watershed restoration and protection, as well as in leadership skill development, water policy and decision-making models addressing water resources.

These efforts are supported by a $114,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

"The Center for Engagement and Community Development is pleased to receive this grant that brings together partners from the departments of agricultural communications, biological and agricultural engineering and from the School of Leadership Studies to build capacity in addressing water and other environmental issues," said David Procter, the center's director.

Source: Kansas State University