Colton Byrne has been named a 2026-2027 Goldwater Scholar for his first-of-its-kind research on seafloor sediments near Thwaites Glacier, work that is helping scientists better understand Antarctic glacial recession and sea-level rise. Byrne conducted the research under Dr. Rebecca Totten, a CONSERVE Faculty Fellow and a Goldwater Scholar herself.
U.S. Geological Survey Director Dr. Ned Mamula visited The University of Alabama's campus in late April, touring the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility, NOAA's National Water Center and all three Alabama Water Institute research entities. The visit deepened a growing partnership and sparked new conversations about the future of the nation's critical water resources.
The University of Alabama earned top recognition in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings, placing No. 13 nationally and No. 100 globally in Water Resources as UA continues expanding its impact in water research, forecasting and workforce development.
The earlier a student encounters water science, the more likely it is to take root. That idea drives the Alabama Water Institute’s commitment to reaching younger audiences, and it brought AWI to the McWane Science Center for Engineering Day 2026.
The Alabama Water Institute recently welcomed Josiah Gullatte as assistant director of watershed conservation, preservation and restoration, or CPR, at CONSERVE, the Community Oriented Nature-based Science for Ecosystem Restoration and Versatile Engineering Research Program.
Alabama holds approximately 15% of all potable water in the United States, and it has a river delta so ecologically rich it is called “America's Amazon.” However, most Alabama schoolchildren are not aware of it.
CIROH announces $25.5 million in funding for 47 new research projects that will help communities better prepare for floods, droughts and changing water conditions. Supported by NOAA and USGS, this work will improve water forecasting tools, expand the use of AI, strengthen coastal and flood prediction and advance new observing technologies to turn cutting-edge science…
The first USGS FLOW Academy brought 13 students to The University of Alabama for a summer of hands-on water technology, fieldwork and discovery that redefined how they see water science.
CIROH hosted its fourth annual Science Meeting September 15–18. The event brought together more than 220 researchers, federal partners and collaborators to share advances in water science, strengthen partnerships and accelerate the transition of research into operations.
This summer, nine students participated in the AI for Operational Hydrology REU, a partnership between the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology and The University of Alabama Graduate School that focuses on applying artificial intelligence to water forecasting challenges.
