Special Topics in Environmental Policy and Culture (390-0-27)
Topic
Water in Arid Lands: Israel and the Middle East
Instructors
Elie Rekhess
Crowe Hall 5-149
Aaron Packman
847/491-9902
2145 N. Sheridan / Tech A314
Office Hours: a-packman@northwestern.edu
Meeting Info
Annenberg Hall G29: Wed 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Overview of class
This seminar will explore how water availability shapes the development of civilizations and drives innovation in water technologies. The course will investigate historical dimensions of water in drylands in the Middle East, starting from ancient civilizations and the water infrastructures that were essential to the development of societies in arid regions. We will use this historical context as a stepping-stone to understand the more recent history of the Middle East, focusing on challenges faced by states in the Jordan River Basin. We will then examine efforts to develop the water resources needed to support burgeoning populations, such as irrigation projects designed to convert barren desert into cultivated agriculture. This more recent history includes geopolitical conflicts over land and water that continue to this day. We will evaluate regional water resources in the context of current and future climate and geopolitical conflicts, review recent advances in water technologies spurred by these limitations, and explore potential social and technological solutions for long-term water sustainability in the Middle East. We will discuss how water access and control contributes to trans-boundary politics and tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the west Bank and Gaza, along with collaborative solutions developed between Israel and Jordan. Finally, we will discuss opportunities for global translation of innovative water technologies and water-management solutions. Start-up culture and innovation in water technologies for local use, notably in Israel and more recently in other nations of the Middle East, serve as a model for improving water supply in other arid regions. The course will host a symposium on water innovation, featuring national and international experts on water technology, policy, and commercialization.
Registration Requirements
No freshmen.
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Students who are Juniors, Seniors, or Graduate students in any school