The UC San Diego Sustainability Solutions Institute is launching a major study to evaluate the feasibility of taking the UCSD campus “off the water grid” or becoming “water neutral” by 2020. Beginning with a conceptual study and then through actual demonstration projects and trial implementations, we will evaluate a variety of technologies and strategies for water conservation, new water sources and re-use. The core team includes faculty, operational staff, and students from UC San Diego, working closely with partners throughout the region.

You are invited to join us in this endeavor. We would work with you in the areas of your expertise as we proceed with our study, including incorporating your research interests where appropriate. SSI will ensure that you will receive regular communications about our activities, and be invited to join us as appropriate. For example, we will be holding technical seminars for inventors and entrepreneurs to present their ideas and explore how they might help us meet our goals.

We will be holding a kick-off event on October 12 from 4 pm – 6 pm at the UCSD Faculty Club’s Atkinson Pavilion, with faculty and students from many departments on campus. There will be short presentations on the overall water crisis, and on the challenges faced by our campus.

The agenda for October 12 is below:

4 pm
Informal networking reception among faculty, students and outside partners

4:30 pm
Presentations from Vice Chancellor of Resource Management and Planning Gary Matthews, SSI Director Professor Paul Linden of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, and Dr. Michael Dettinger from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

If you are available, we would welcome you to join this event. Please RSVP to Michelle Session at msession@ucsd.edu or call (858) 822-2521.