What is the rationale behind CWACES?
The rationale for establishing a Center for Water as a Complex Environmental System at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is based on the importance of water-related environmental research and on the capacity for the U of I to be an international leader in this important research area. Issues related to environmental aspects of water, especially water quality and quantity, are among the most complex, yet pressing natural-resource concerns facing society on a national and international basis in the 21 st century. The Earth’s inhabitants face unprecedented challenges with regard to water quality and quantity over the coming decades due to changes in climate and land use, growing populations, increased consumption of natural resources, uneven geographical distributions of resources, and disparities in access to water resources. Addressing these challenges involves not only increased effort in hydrological research, but increased interdisciplinary research that integrates knowl
