Peter G. McCornick, an internationally known expert in water, food and environmental research and practice, began work as the Executive Director of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska on Aug. 25. Learn more about WFI's new leader and what he's been up to in recent days.

From left: Director of Research Christopher Neale shares news of his recent projects with departing Founding Executive Director Roberto Lenton and new Executive Director Peter McCornick on Aug. 25.

To learn more, read our blog, view photos and watch the highlights video: 

A farewell reception was held Aug. 17 in honor of WFI Founding Executive Director Roberto Lenton. He stepped down from his leadership role at the institute last month and has transitioned to being a biological systems engineering professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We wish to thank Dr. Lenton for his exceptional leadership over the past six years. Read Dr. Lenton's farewell blog, v iew photos and watch the remarks:
 

Remarks: Roberto Lenton farewell celebration, Aug. 17, 2016.

An international group of researchers recently developed AquaCrop-OS, a free and open-source version of FAO's AquaCrop -- a crop water productivity model that was first developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Farm managers, policymakers, researchers and other practitioners can use the tool for water use decision-making from the field to the basin scales. Partners involved in the project include WFI, FAO, the University of Manchester and Imperial College, London. Learn more.

This spring, UNL students will have the opportunity to learn about the interconnections and complex challenges involving water, food and energy. Water in Society is a new course open to all majors that aims to foster science-savvy students capable of making effective real-world decisions. The class is co-led by WFI Faculty Fellows Cory Forbes and Trenton Franz, along with Director of Policy Nick Brozovic.

UNL researchers Mehmet Can Vuran, a WFI Facutly Fellow, and Suat Irmak, have earned a $450,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a second generation of underground sensor technology that can automate decision-making when it comes to irrigating crops. Learn more.

This summer, Faculty Fellow Michael Forsberg and field producer Pete Stegen embarked on a two-month, 1,000 mile traverse of the Platte River Basin. Traveling by bike, foot and canoe through Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska, they explored the complex watershed and captured multi-media and other information to help answer the question: where does your water comes from? Visit the Platte Basin Timelapse website to view the interactive travelogue and read the Kearney Hub story.

"Transboundary Water from Afghanistan: Climate Change, and Land-Use Implications"
Faculty Fellow Jack Shroder, co-author

"Water Security and Peacebuilding in the Middle East: Essays in Scientific and Social Cooperation"
Faculty Fellow Jean Cahan, editor

"American Exceptionalism Reconsidered: U.S. Foreign Policy, Human Rights and World Order"
Faculty Fellow Patrice McMahon, co-author

"Modern Poisons: A Brief Introduction to Contemporary Toxicology"
Faculty Fellow Alan Kolok, author

The Nebraska Water Center's annual Water Symposium will feature a series of panels examining water management and planning in Nebraska, with a focus on the state's major river basins. "Managing an Essential Resource... Basin by Basin" will be Oct. 20 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln. Panelists will provide a range of perspectives covering the Upper Platte, Lower Platte, Republican, Blue and Niobrara basins. Topics will include water supply, political structures, past management and development characteristics, among others. Learn more.

On Oct. 21, the Nebraska Water Law Conference will be jointly hosted by NWC and the Nebraska College of Law. This annual event provides the latest information on the state's water law to attorneys, water professionals and other interested stakeholders.

Registration details are pending. For the latest information on these events, follow NWC on Facebook and Twitter, and visit watercenter.unl.edu.

Nebraska Water Center Director Chittaranjan Ray, Faculty Fellow Haishun Yang and former visiting scholar Tony Carr published "Temporal Variations of Water Productivity in Irrigated Corn: An Analysis of Factors Influencing Yield and Water Use across Central Nebraska," in PLOS ONE Aug. 30. Read paper.

A special breakfast event will be hosted jointly by the University of Nebraska's four institutes -- WFI, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, the National Strategic Research Institute and the Rural Futures Institute. The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning about the institutes and the resources, expertise and partnerships they offer. Register by Sept. 29 .

Thursday, Oct. 6, 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Nebraska Innovation Campus, Conference Center
Register now

U.S. Agency for International Development
India Partnerships Program

Deadline: March 31
Funding Opportunity APS-386-16-000001.

Through the India Partnerships Program, USAID seeks new and expanded partnerships in focus areas that include food security and nutrition; clean energy and forestry; access to water and sanitation; and several others of priority to India. USAID is particularly interested in working with Indian private businesses, business and trade associations, foundations, and financial institutions. This is in addition to traditional non-profit NGOs and for-profit development firms, as well as entities of the Indian Government. The maximum amount of funding varies with each focus area. Applicants need to provide matched resources.

Tinker Foundation
Sustainable Resource Management in Latin America

Deadline: March 1
Award amount: past awards up to $600,000

Tinker's program of Institutional Grants supports the theme of sustainable resource management (among others) in Latin America. Particular issues of interest include sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry and non-timber forest products, sustainable tourism, fisheries management, and payment for environmental services. Tinker is also very interested in issues of water scarcity and quality for communities. The Foundation encourages project collaboration among organizations in the USA and Latin America. Tinker invites brief letters of inquiry to the Foundation before proposals are prepared and submitted.

Securing Water for Food: A Grand Challenge for Development
Fourth Call for Innovations

$7.5 million competition seeks innovations to improve water and food security, gender equality, and reduce poverty to receive up to $2 million in funding and acceleration support. Apply now.