BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 30, 2007 – The Virginia Water Resources Research Center, based at Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources, in partnership with the West Virginia Water Research Institute will host the 2007 Water Research Symposium Nov. 26-30 at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.
The conference is open to the public and especially geared for state and local government professionals, university faculty and students, experts from environmental consulting and environmental law firms, and other groups with an interest in water resources.
Highlights of this year’s symposium include five workshops and an invited panel that will discuss emerging issues concerning water for wildlife in Virginia and West Virginia waters. Additionally, more than 80 paper presentations will draw attention to research findings, technical innovations, regulations, watershed management and monitoring, and a broad range of other water quality and supply issues.
The Virginia Water Resources Research Center was established at Virginia Tech in 1965 by the U.S. Congress as one of the nation’s 54 water institutes, and is affiliated to the College of Natural Resources. The center’s mission is to offer research and educational opportunities to water scientists and students, and provide citizens and government leaders with water science information.
The College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech consistently ranks among the top five programs of its kind in the nation. Faculty members stress both the technical and human elements of natural resources and instill in students a sense of stewardship and land-use ethics. Areas of studies include environmental resource management, fisheries and wildlife sciences, forestry, geospatial and environmental analysis, natural resource recreation, urban forestry, wood science and forest products, geography, and international development.