“Drinking Water: A History” author James Salzman, who is a faculty member at UNC and Duke University, will give a free public lecture on the topics of his book at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the fourth floor conference room of the FedEx Global Education Center. Salzman is Samuel Fox Mordecai Professor of Law at UNC’s School of Law and the Nicholas Institute Professor of Environmental Policy at the Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment
Salzman has written extensively on environmental conservation, population growth and climate change. His book received critical acclaim for its humor, detail and breadth. The lecture is part of the Global Research Institute’s “Water in our World” Speaker Series.
The Global Research Institute presents Salzman’s lecture in conjunction with its ongoing efforts over the next two years to address prescient global issues related to water. With the world population likely to pass 9 billion by mid-century, the research theme “Making Scarce Water Work for All” is emerging as one of the most important of our time.
The theme plays well into UNC’s cross-campus water theme, which aims to energize and guide activity across different schools, programs and institutions and foster better understanding of critical global challenges of managing water availability and quality.
Most people take for granted easy access to water. However, for many people, it’s not as easy as turning on a tap. Salzman’s book highlights the history of drinking water by regaling readers with the tales of adventure, environmental history and modern global tensions surrounding the human pursuit of clean, accessible drinking water. Attendees can expect a deeper understanding of making scarce water work for all.
Published January 29, 2013.