Water Resources and Environmental Issues in 2050: A Retrospective Look toward the Future

The past 40 years have witnessed many changes in the fields of water resources and environmental engineering. In some respects, the tools and methods used to analyze and design water systems have undergone significant changes. However, in other respects, there has been a gradual evolution but the underlying concepts and methodologies have changed very little. This paper is part of session that will first look back at how water resources and environmental planning has changed over the past 40 years and then attempt to look over the horizon at what water resources and environmental engineering will look like 40 years from now by exploring the insights of a select group of leading engineers and scientists. Topics may include how the politics of global warming or the advent of new technologies such as nanotechnologies influence water resource and environmental engineering policy and practice. A panel of experts will discuss these future changes and attempt to answer the fundamental question of what we must do to prepare ourselves and those for whom we have responsibility to face future environmental and water resource challenges. This is the initial event in a series of future activities planned by the Emerging and Innovative Technology Committee to look at 2050 visioning in the water resources and environmental area.