Join us as two water experts discuss current challenges related to the quality of Michigan’s fresh water, and provide an overview of research projects aimed at addressing those issues.

If you missed the event, you can watch a video recap on our MSU Research Channel.

Michigan State University and the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) of Grand Valley State University, recently formalized a partnership to collaborate on water-related issues and research.

The AWRI, located on Muskegon Lake in Muskegon, Michigan, supports research, education, and outreach aimed at preserving freshwater resources. AWRI is led by Alan Steinman, the Allen and Helen Hunting director. Its research programs explore aquatic ecology, toxicology, ecosystem restoration, and other water quality projects. Additionally, the Information Services Center at the AWRI uses geographic information system data analysis to inform natural resources management decisions.

MSU has researchers and outreach specialists in a variety of departments studying water, including but not limited to fisheries and wildlife, biosystems and agricultural engineering, criminal justice, entomology, and geography. MSU is home to the Institute of Water Research (IWR). Darrell Donahue, IWR director and chair of the MSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, is leading the MSU coalition working with AWRI.

Learn more from the article “MSU & GVSU join forces to address water challenges.”

Speaker Bios

Alan Steinman

Alan (Al) Steinman, Ph.D., is the Director of Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute, a position he has held since 2001.  Previously, he was Director of the Lake Okeechobee Restoration Program at the South Florida Water Management District. Steinman has published over 170 scientific articles and book chapters has been awarded over $55 million in grants for scientific and engineering projects, and has testified before the U.S. Congress and the Michigan and Florida state legislatures.

Steinman is a member of science advisory boards for the U.S. EPA, the International Joint Commission, Michigan DEQ, Sea Grant, Healing our Waters, University of Michigan’s Water Center, and the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research.  He currently serves as Associate Editor for the journal Freshwater Biology. He also has served on the State of Michigan’s Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council and Phosphorus Advisory Committees. Steinman’s research interests include aquatic ecosystem restoration, harmful algal blooms, phosphorus cycling, and water policy.

Darrell Donahue

Darrell W. Donahue, Ph.D., CQE, began as professor and chair of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University in July 2015. He became the Director of the Institute of Water Research at MSU in February 2017 along with his chair duties.

Dr. Donahue currently serves as a member of the International Commission on the Microbiological Specifications for Foods in the capacity as food safety and sampling expert and also serves/served as an expert on NAS/WHO/FAO panels in food safety and defense. He also continues to consult with the US Department of Homeland Security on the evaluation of their risk assessment capacity and modeling.

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