UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — While the U.S. has spent approximately $5 trillion to improve water quality since 1970, our understanding of the social effects of water pollution remains limited. On Thursday, March 24, Catherine Kling, Tisch University Professor and director of the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future at Cornell University, will present a new model of nutrient pollution assessment that considers its social costs and could reshape the way the U.S. handles water quality issues.
Kling's presentation, titled "Social Costs of Nutrient Pollution in the United States," is part of the Penn State Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science's Spring Distinguished Speaker Series and the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering's Celebrating Women in Energy and Water Research series.
The talk will be held at 3 p.m. in 312 Ag Engineering Building on Penn State's University Park campus.
The proposal being discussed is a national integrated assessment model of nutrient pollution that incorporates the spatial variability of pollution consequences. This model allows for estimation of three social effects: housing price impacts, water-based recreation, and drinking water treatment costs. Preliminary analysis suggests that nutrient pollution has large impacts across these areas, particularly in urban locations and along the coasts. Better understanding of these impacts can help scientists and policymakers improve and transform water quality strategies.
Pre-registration is requested; registration and details on the complete event series can be found here. Attendees requiring accommodations or those with questions can email safes@psu.edu.