Wednesday, April 7, 2004

What price water?

Rose Baca For El Defensor Chieftain

Water use trends and resources, both in quantity and quality in New Mexico, in conjunction with some of the expectations we have of science and technology in solving these problems, were the topics discussed by a panel of five experts at a recent workshop on water issues in the state held at New Mexico Tech.

The workshop entitled, "Research and Communities: Practicing Science Responsibility, A Discussion on New Mexico Water Issues," was hosted by the New Mexico Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate.

David B. Johnson, Dean of Graduate Studies for Tech, and an associate professor of geology, opened the workshop, focusing on roles scientists have played in the past, specifically that of the Oppenheimer team during WWII. How we view ethics and responsibility in science in the creation and use of atomic energy has never left the forefront of world concern, he said.

The NM-AGEP encourages minorities in New Mexico in pursuing doctoral degrees. Three doctoral-granting institutions comprise this alliance funded by the National Science Foundation: the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and Tech.

Enrique R. Vivoni, assistant professor of hydrology at Tech moderated the panel of five water experts: Cyndie Abeyta, hydrologist and Middle Rio Grande Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Dr. Rob Bowman, professor of Hydrology and Hydrology Program Director for the Earth and Environmental Science Department at Tech; Maceo Carrillo Martinet, a student in the Freshwater Sciences Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program at UNM, and member of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Groundwater Protection Advisory Board; Dr. Jim McCord, Principal Groundwater Hydrologist and New Mexico Manager for Hydrosphere Resource Consultants, and a 21-year veteran in hydrology and water resource investigations; and Dr. Rodriguez-Bejarano of the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, with over 30 years of experience in environmental programs.

As a graduate student, Martinet initiated his doctoral research project with plans to include community involvement. In the process, he obtained funding to establish an ecological and cultural institute for Albuquerque high school students. Here students in the community learn through participating in the actual research and use of water resources technology. As an academic at NMT, Bowman's primary mission is in training the experts, the first responders, so to speak, in analyzing a water resource crisis. He brought up a major issue for potential conflict in the funding for scientific research, which is the obligation to remain objective versus loyalty to a funding agency.

Rodriguez-Bejarano is integrally involved in State land legal issues and water rights and gave some examples of the never-ending status of continuing water rights cases and explained how the State uses water use history to determine water use rights. McCord talked about the uncertainty that exists in any scientific data gathered. He added that a scientist, when called to be an expert witness, is obligated to give an interpretation of data that is defensible and reasonable. Abeyta directed some of her discussion to any that might be pursuing professions related to water study. The program she works for offers grants for protecting natural resources and involves several of the federal agencies of the U.S. Department of Interior, she said. She encouraged prospective graduates in search of employment to critically review the missions of different agencies and consider whether or not they indeed have a reputation for practicing unbiased science.

Approximately 50 participants attended the workshop, which later broke up into small group discussions led by a panelist expert. Several attendees were from programs represented by the three NM-AGEP universities.

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