Water – we live, work and play with and around it. We can’t live without water. Water was the theme on September 29-30, 2011, at the MI H2Objective Conference sponsored by the University Research Corridor. The URC is made up of universities Wayne State, U of M, and Michigan State.
In attendance were scientists, researchers, and inventors from academia and business. The two day conference brought them together to discuss how to protect this endangered commodity.
Our water ways are threatened by a number of challenges. Dangerous evasive species are a growing concern as we do business with foreign countr
ies over our water ways. Some are plants others are water creatures. Pollution continues to be an issue not only throughout the water sheds and basins but the lakes themselves.
Our ability to solve our water challenges has economic development implications. Opportunities for entrepreneurship, jobs as a result of restoring the Great Lakes and it’s continued maintenance are countless. New technologies in waste water treatment, energy generation, conservation creates financial opportunity.
Senator Hansen Clark and Longtime Congressman John Conyers gave remarks to the participants. Congressman Clark mentioned the work the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and how to get involved. “I’m inspired by your work. “ Clark said of the URC.
Wayne State hosted the event at McGregor Memorial Conference Center and Community Arts Auditorium where in celebration, curator, Linda Mendelson exhibited “Watercolor Revisited: A New Perspective” in the gallery. The display gave presence to the water we all need.
Participants in the symposium agreed that there is urgency for them to form partnerships with multidiscipline’s and inform community members in order to solve our water problems through economic development.
Author: Tina Riley-Humphrey, representing GreeningDetroit.com
