Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Ancient Greeks considered these the essentials to support life on earth. And they had a point. From Earth, soils are derived. From Air are provided the gases of respiration. From Fire, our sun-star, Earth is bathed in the energy of life. But only where there is also Water can life, in the words of Dr. Spock, “live long and prosper.” We have completed the 2016 and 2017 Mississippi Water Security Institute (MS WSI), funded by the Hearin Foundation of Jackson, hosted by the SMBHC, and which I have had the pleasure to direct. The purpose of the MS WSI is to introduce honors students to the challenges and complexities of how we use and manage water resources, to meet our present needs and the needs of future generations, because without sustainable water use, neither long life nor prosperity is possible. With so many different demands on our water resources, it is clear that to ensure a water-secure Mississippi some tough decisions will need to be made. Through MS WSI (our “Prime Directive” if you will) we are preparing to contribute wisely to this process. The 2018 MS WSI will focus on water security issues of the Gulf Coast region. I encourage interested students to contact me at byochs@olemiss.edu.
Clifford Ochs
Director, Mississippi Water Security Institute
2018 MS WSI
2017 MS WSI
2016 MS WSI
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