Water is our focus.
Water is the central focus of our research and the support we offer to faculty members at The University of Alabama. It plays a vital role in sustaining our lives and ecosystems. It is a finite and essential resource, and its availability and quality are increasingly threatened by climate change, population growth, pollution and overuse. AWI’s transdisciplinary research into water resources, management and conservation is necessary to understand complex hydrological systems and to develop sustainable solutions to manage and protect water resources for present and future generations.
Research Entities
Global Water Security Center
The Global Water Security Center leverages cutting-edge science to deliver critical water and environmental security insights to key decision-makers and provides reliable tools and analysis to support national water security interests.
CIROH
CIROH is a one-of-a-kind partnership between The University of Alabama, NOAA and the National Weather Service, aimed at revolutionizing U.S. water forecasting through collaboration among 28 institutions.
CONSERVE
CONSERVE draws on The University of Alabama’s wide-ranging interdisciplinary expertise to address biodiversity and watershed management challenges through community-centered research.
Research News
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Delta Kids: Bringing Water Science to Alabama Classrooms
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — 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. “Delta Kids,” a new illustrated children’s book from Clean Water Alabama, is working to change that. The…
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Advancing Watershed Conservation: CONSERVE Supports ARSN’s Mission
MILLBROOK, Ala. — Protecting our vital waterways requires dedicated scientific research and strong regional collaboration. Watersheds are not confined to state and county lines. The health of our rivers depends on the collective effort of researchers, policymakers and local communities. A Gathering of Experts Alabama Water Institute’s CONSERVE Research Group, focused on nature-based watershed conservation,…
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From Anthropology Student to CONSERVE Storyteller
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ekaterina Menkina, a University of Alabama anthropology student, had never touched professional filming equipment before. However, the Alabama Water Institute’s CONSERVE Research Group took a chance on her in 2024, handing over professional-grade camera equipment and trusting her to document ancient pictographs 800 miles from Tuscaloosa. “I saw the words ‘creative’ and ‘art,’…
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CONSERVE Future Ecologies Lab Brings Advanced DNA Analysis to UA
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A process that once required two full days of hands-on work by a researcher and graduate student now takes about an hour. The Alabama Water Institute’s Equipment Support Program recently helped fund a Thermo Scientific KingFisher Apex for its CONSERVE Future Ecologies lab. The state-of-the-art genomics platform automates the extraction of DNA, RNA and proteins…
Publications & Media
WaterWorks Seminar
AWI holds a monthly seminar series called WaterWorks: Conversations at the Intersection of Water, Science and Society.
Annual Report
AWI’s Annual Report highlights a year of progress in advancing water science, technology and policy.
Our Impact
$34M Total FY24 Extramural Funds
$520K Research Support Provided
46 Employees
34 New Research Projects
159 Affiliated Papers Published
696 Research Presentations
23 Students Attending Summer Institute
11 Students Joining NRT
9 Students in First REU
224K Social Media Impressions
26K Social Media Engagements