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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CONSERVE Expands Tribal Network for Rivercane Database
AWI’s CONSERVE team is working with tribal partners across 12 states to map rivercane and build a traits database that supports both ecosystem restoration and cultural traditions. Their recent presentation in Florida highlighted how the project strengthens conservation and tribal heritage.
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New EPA-Funded Project to Strengthen Gulf Coast Water Monitoring
A new three-year initiative will track PFAS contamination in coastal waters across Alabama and Mississippi, producing the first published data on these persistent chemicals in Gulf Coast waters for the region.
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CIROH Prepares for AGU25: Advancing Water Prediction and Connection Through Science
CIROH is building on the momentum of AGU24 as it prepares for AGU25 in New Orleans, where leaders in Earth and space science will gather under the theme “Where Science Connects Us.”
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New Equipment Strengthens UA Water Research Across Disciplines
The Alabama Water Institute continues to support its affiliated faculty members and their research across The University of Alabama with new tools that expand capabilities in labs and in the field.
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