Environmental Markets: the Good, Bad and Ugly, an Astor Lecture

On the 30th of October 2019, the School of Geography and the Environment played host to the Astor Lecture organized by the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. Professor Michael Hanemann delivered this Lecture on the topic of environmental markets, their applications and limitations…

Oxford led research on the Nile River enters the global spotlight

The research of Dr Kevin Wheeler has becoming increasingly salient with the forthcoming completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River. As the countries of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt continue to negotiate over the initial filling of the new reservoir and the future operation of the largest hydropower dam in Africa, […]

How can we increase capacity for water-related climate adaptation? Lessons and opportunities from Ethiopian river basins

New blog from Dr Ellen Dyer (University of Oxford) shares insights from a session themed around increasing capacity for water-related climate adaptation, hosted by REACH at the African Climate Risk Conference on 7 October.

Is the River Cherwell a Drinkable River?

Citizen science is becoming increasingly popular, particularly for data collection. It is able to improve knowledge and stimulate great public participation and action. However, questions about data quality and accessibility linger…

Remedies for streamflow depletion in the United States

The average person uses about 4500 litres of water per day, 96.2% of which is “virtual” water contained in agricultural or industrial products. In the United States, 95% of the national water footprint is due to crop production, with just 7 crops accounting for 75% of groundwater consumption and 50% of surface water consumption. Speaking on 25 October 2019, Dr. Landon Marston, an American researcher from Kansas State University, tells us that this is causing substantial streamflow depletion in the nation’s rivers…

Rivers are changing all the time, and it affects their capacity to contain floods

The rainfall that has inundated the North of England is the latest in a long line of flood events that are becoming the country’s new normal. Indeed, across the world, flooding is expected to become more frequent and more extreme as the planet heats up…

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Jubilee River Scheme: A Flagship or a Failure?

On 18th October 2019, WSPM students explored the Jubilee River Scheme in Maidenhead and Eton.

Oxford University Innovation licenses sensors for bacterial sensing in food and water

Point of measurement devices which can accurately detect and quantify the levels of bacteria in food and water forms the basis of a new licensing deal between Oxford University Innovation (OUI), the research commercialisation arm of Oxford University, and electrochemical sensor manufacturer Zimmer and Peacock (ZP).