SAFL & the City: A successful Stormwater Symposium
Recently, SAFL and the City of Minneapolis co-hosted a short symposium focused on relationship-building between stormwater researchers and community stakeholders.
Dr. Andy Erickson set the tone for the morning by asking, “What research can we do that will help you make good decisions?”
The decision makers in the room included representatives from the City of Minneapolis Public Works, the MN Stormwater Coalition, and the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board. Water researchers from across the University of Minnesota were also present.
After touring the SAFL facility and spending some time crowded around a dozen posters representing SAFL-city research collaborations, participants joined a lively discussion in the auditorium about stormwater challenges, with an emphasis on strengthening university-community communication channels.
Research priorities such as microplastics and chloride in stormwater, biochar for stormwater management, and addressing harmful algae blooms were discussed, as well as the challenge of how to get new research findings implemented in light of slow-to-change city and state ordinances.
The symposium exemplified researchers at their best: curious to connect face to face, proactive and responsive to stakeholder needs, ensuring their findings get into hands that can put them to use.
