Recent Presentations
Water Footprinting
A water footprint is the total volume of freshwater used, both directly and indirectly, to produce the goods and services consumed by an individual or community, and consists of (1) green water, the volume of rainwater consumed during the production process plus the water incorporated into the harvested crop or wood; (2) blue water, the volume of surface and groundwater consumed as a result of the production of the good or service; and (3) grey water, the freshwater pollution associated with the product over its full supply chain. We will discuss personal, corporate and national water footprints, virtual water trading, supply chains, consumer choice and implications for watershed integrity.
Our River: A Panel Discussion on the Big Wood River
What kinds of controls should the community exert upon the river? Should stream flow be managed? Should trout habitat be preserved? Who has the right to use water and for what purpose? The Center hopes to touch on many of these topics and start a dialogue with different stakeholders, from conservationists to developers. Panelists are environmental scientist, Dr. Wendy Pabich, former Project Coordinator for the Wood River Land Trust, Kathryn Goldman, rancher Pete Van Der Meulen and former directer of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Dr. David Tuthill.
Patagonia: Ice to Ocean
Slicing through the peaks of the southern Andes, the pure Río Baker is the main artery of the world’s third largest freshwater reserve. As an ecological hotspot and carbon sink, Patagonia is an icon of global wilderness. Fed by fast melting glaciers, the Rio Baker is dynamic and unstable. Climate change is causing rapid draining of glacial lakes and tsunami-like floods, killing hundreds of livestock and threatening a way of life. Proposed hydroelectric dams on the Río Baker and nearby Río Pascua further threaten the watershed. Widely criticized for ecological, economic, cultural and political reasons, many fear these dams would mark the beginning of large-scale frontier development in this vitally important bi-national region. Patagonia: Ice to Ocean will explore the hydrologic cycle of this vast and beautiful watershed, linking its massive glaciers to the Pacific Ocean, and capturing the extreme weather, culture and geography of Patagonia. Climate change, energy issues and the proposed dams will also be examined.
Testimonial
”On behalf of Chaffee Citizens for Sustainability, I would like to thank you Wendy for your informative and inspiring presentation “Patagonia: Ice to Ocean”. The pictures you showed us along with your clear and personal narration kept us glued and in awe. It is clear that serious environmental issues are occurring not just in our backyard but literally all over the planet. We appreciate your shining the light so clearly on the critical events that are happening in the Patagonia region. We look forward to hearing and seeing more.”
Press
http://salidacitizen.com/2010/05/patagonia-ice-to-ocean/
Peak Water
A panel with Wendy Pabich, Founder, Water Futures; Jonathan Leidich, President and CEO, Patagonia Adventure Expeditions; Tamin Pechet, CEO, Banyan Water LLC; and Rafael Simon, Venture Partner, VantagePoint Venture Partners; hosted by Russ Daggatt, Board Member, American Rivers.
Testimonial
“Wendy, you did a magnificent job as our water expert speaker for the Peak Water panel at the Annual Future in Review 2010 Event! Your passion, knowledge and commitment to global water solutions are clearly apparent to all who attended the event - C level executives in technology, finance, government and world press. I hope you'll lead our Water Panel next year as well!”
Water Futures
Water has always been precious in the West. Yet, increasing pressure from development, industry, rising populations and climate change is upping the ante. This session will focus on understanding the value of our water resources, our failure to properly steward them, and the ways in which we, as a community, can employ strategies that recognize the links between water, energy and land to develop a more sustainable water future.
Testimonial
“Wendy Pabich is one of the rare speakers who is both scientist and artist. The artist side gives her the ability to connect with audiences of all knowledge levels without sacrificing scientific rigor. She is a wonderful speaker and can make water issues come alive.”
Water: Waste Not, Want Not
Water's essential. Water's limited. Water's wasted. Water we do now? It's 2016, and a new President – the first from a historically suppressed minority group (biologists) – has just been elected on a platform of environmental resource reform. Water issues threaten both the fragile U.S. economic recovery (brought about by the retiring administration) and the health and well being of the planet. In this time of crisis, the new President's handlers decide to confront their harshest critics head on by submitting to a hostile appearance on the number one news network four years running: Comedy Central. The President – based on over two decades of pioneering experience with constructed wetlands and natural “waste”water treatment/reuse systems – defends his administration's aggressive water conservation and reuse (WCR) reforms against withering satirical critique fed by conventional engineering wisdom and the powerful inertia lobby. Since polls show that most people get the majority of their information from satirical journalism sources (e.g. Daily Show, Colbert Report, SNL, Fox News), our interactive session will address the serious problems/solutions of water use/reuse within those familiar guidelines. Join our troupe as we take a critical – and humorous – look at the serious subject of water use, abuse and reuse in the developed environment. Particular focus and project examples will include decentralized wastewater systems, the nexus of water & energy, and natural water treatment utilizing biomimicry and constructed wetlands.
Testimonial
"Perhaps you're ready to discard everything you thought you knew about water, its infrastructure, and the ways that we 'manage' our water and waste so that you can become truly educated on the subject? If you've answered yes, than you'd be remiss if your plans did not include Wendy Pabich on your path to complete understanding. When Wendy took part in the session 'Waste Not, Want Not' at our deep-green conference this year, there wasn't a head not scratched, a side not split, nor a seat to be had. She and her team brought humor and in-depth, cutting-edge knowledge to this subject, as the 'standing room only' spilled out into the halls. Don't think twice and secure these guys. They're the best on this subject, bar none."
Press
http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/05/14/it8217s-definitely-uncool-to-waste-water/
A water footprint is the total volume of freshwater used, both directly and indirectly, to produce the goods and services consumed by an individual or community, and consists of (1) green water, the volume of rainwater consumed during the production process plus the water incorporated into the harvested crop or wood; (2) blue water, the volume of surface and groundwater consumed as a result of the production of the good or service; and (3) grey water, the freshwater pollution associated with the product over its full supply chain. We will discuss personal, corporate and national water footprints, virtual water trading, supply chains, consumer choice and implications for watershed integrity.
Guest Lecture in Global Freshwater Crisis
April 27, 2011
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
April 27, 2011
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Our River: A Panel Discussion on the Big Wood River
What kinds of controls should the community exert upon the river? Should stream flow be managed? Should trout habitat be preserved? Who has the right to use water and for what purpose? The Center hopes to touch on many of these topics and start a dialogue with different stakeholders, from conservationists to developers. Panelists are environmental scientist, Dr. Wendy Pabich, former Project Coordinator for the Wood River Land Trust, Kathryn Goldman, rancher Pete Van Der Meulen and former directer of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Dr. David Tuthill.
Patagonia: Ice to Ocean
Slicing through the peaks of the southern Andes, the pure Río Baker is the main artery of the world’s third largest freshwater reserve. As an ecological hotspot and carbon sink, Patagonia is an icon of global wilderness. Fed by fast melting glaciers, the Rio Baker is dynamic and unstable. Climate change is causing rapid draining of glacial lakes and tsunami-like floods, killing hundreds of livestock and threatening a way of life. Proposed hydroelectric dams on the Río Baker and nearby Río Pascua further threaten the watershed. Widely criticized for ecological, economic, cultural and political reasons, many fear these dams would mark the beginning of large-scale frontier development in this vitally important bi-national region. Patagonia: Ice to Ocean will explore the hydrologic cycle of this vast and beautiful watershed, linking its massive glaciers to the Pacific Ocean, and capturing the extreme weather, culture and geography of Patagonia. Climate change, energy issues and the proposed dams will also be examined.
Testimonial
”On behalf of Chaffee Citizens for Sustainability, I would like to thank you Wendy for your informative and inspiring presentation “Patagonia: Ice to Ocean”. The pictures you showed us along with your clear and personal narration kept us glued and in awe. It is clear that serious environmental issues are occurring not just in our backyard but literally all over the planet. We appreciate your shining the light so clearly on the critical events that are happening in the Patagonia region. We look forward to hearing and seeing more.”
Press
http://salidacitizen.com/2010/05/patagonia-ice-to-ocean/
Peak Water
A panel with Wendy Pabich, Founder, Water Futures; Jonathan Leidich, President and CEO, Patagonia Adventure Expeditions; Tamin Pechet, CEO, Banyan Water LLC; and Rafael Simon, Venture Partner, VantagePoint Venture Partners; hosted by Russ Daggatt, Board Member, American Rivers.
Testimonial
“Wendy, you did a magnificent job as our water expert speaker for the Peak Water panel at the Annual Future in Review 2010 Event! Your passion, knowledge and commitment to global water solutions are clearly apparent to all who attended the event - C level executives in technology, finance, government and world press. I hope you'll lead our Water Panel next year as well!”
Water Futures
Water has always been precious in the West. Yet, increasing pressure from development, industry, rising populations and climate change is upping the ante. This session will focus on understanding the value of our water resources, our failure to properly steward them, and the ways in which we, as a community, can employ strategies that recognize the links between water, energy and land to develop a more sustainable water future.
Testimonial
“Wendy Pabich is one of the rare speakers who is both scientist and artist. The artist side gives her the ability to connect with audiences of all knowledge levels without sacrificing scientific rigor. She is a wonderful speaker and can make water issues come alive.”
Water: Waste Not, Want Not
Water's essential. Water's limited. Water's wasted. Water we do now? It's 2016, and a new President – the first from a historically suppressed minority group (biologists) – has just been elected on a platform of environmental resource reform. Water issues threaten both the fragile U.S. economic recovery (brought about by the retiring administration) and the health and well being of the planet. In this time of crisis, the new President's handlers decide to confront their harshest critics head on by submitting to a hostile appearance on the number one news network four years running: Comedy Central. The President – based on over two decades of pioneering experience with constructed wetlands and natural “waste”water treatment/reuse systems – defends his administration's aggressive water conservation and reuse (WCR) reforms against withering satirical critique fed by conventional engineering wisdom and the powerful inertia lobby. Since polls show that most people get the majority of their information from satirical journalism sources (e.g. Daily Show, Colbert Report, SNL, Fox News), our interactive session will address the serious problems/solutions of water use/reuse within those familiar guidelines. Join our troupe as we take a critical – and humorous – look at the serious subject of water use, abuse and reuse in the developed environment. Particular focus and project examples will include decentralized wastewater systems, the nexus of water & energy, and natural water treatment utilizing biomimicry and constructed wetlands.
Testimonial
"Perhaps you're ready to discard everything you thought you knew about water, its infrastructure, and the ways that we 'manage' our water and waste so that you can become truly educated on the subject? If you've answered yes, than you'd be remiss if your plans did not include Wendy Pabich on your path to complete understanding. When Wendy took part in the session 'Waste Not, Want Not' at our deep-green conference this year, there wasn't a head not scratched, a side not split, nor a seat to be had. She and her team brought humor and in-depth, cutting-edge knowledge to this subject, as the 'standing room only' spilled out into the halls. Don't think twice and secure these guys. They're the best on this subject, bar none."
Darby Burn Strong
Program Coordinator
International Living Building Institute / Cascadia Region Green Building Council
Program Coordinator
International Living Building Institute / Cascadia Region Green Building Council
Press
http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/05/14/it8217s-definitely-uncool-to-waste-water/