Stakeholder Informed Modeling of Innovations in the FEW

Program Overview

Anthropogenic processes, such as urbanization and globalization, are creating increased demands for food, energy, and water (the “FEW”), while climate change is amplifying the rate and extent of resource degradation.  Washington State University has a large team of interdisciplinary researchers working to explore the FEW nexus to explore how innovations in technology, policy, and management (e.g., renewable energy, in-stream flow requirements) can increase resilience across all of the FEW sectors in the system.  This program coordinated with our NSF-funded ColumbiaFEW team to access and participate in two-way engagement with FEW stakeholders to develop new strategies and understand innovation adoption in real world settings.

Over the course of nine weeks, this program taught students how to 1) develop complex systems thinking and system dynamics simulation skills, 2) work with data through data wrangling workshops, 3) engage in professional development and team-based exercises through shared activities, and 4) communicate and work with other scientific audiences and stakeholders.  Through a combination of workshop training, mentored research, and professional development, this program immersed students in FEW research expanding their career network and building lasting connections with the members of their cohort, other WSU undergraduate researchers, and WSU faculty mentors.