As the demand for water increases, this valuable resource is becoming more scarce. Societies are now faced with reexamining how they use this resource and how it has been allocated across different competing uses. This presentation will begin with a basic overview of the economic aspects of water allocation and will proceed into more detail about two projects that examine specific water issues. The first project evaluates how water transfers from agriculture to instream flows can be used to protect endangered species in the Platte River Basin. The second project examines how water is being used within the city of Turlock and how households respond to voluntary water conservation efforts.

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
FDC118

A comparison of urban-cultural landscape evolution associated with Italian immigration to California and Australia cities during the late 19th and early 20th century. The talk will report on recent fieldwork in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales and compare findings to similar research efforts in California. The talk will highlight landscape change associated with current tourism and heritage marketing, and the transformation of urban and suburban districts that utilize Italian themes and Italian ethnic brands.

4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
FDC118

This presentation focuses on two specific interests of the speaker: the function of the brain (keys to attention, memory retention and recall, the importance of doodling), and effects of neurotoxins on the nervous system. Since we live in a poisoned valley, these interests are not mutually exclusive. Our brains are more challenged than brains living in more healthy environments.

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
FDC118

This presentation summarizes the more lasting results from prior research studies about the nature of informing human or robotic operations as seen through the lens of decision-making. The model and framework of thinking about information quality entails fundamental concepts, basic distinctions, universal taxonomy of informing factors, their qualities, and priorities and practical applications; and quality requirements for factors in form and in substance.

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
FDC118