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We live in a time of global change in which environmental issues are becoming
increasingly evident. These issues are a culmination of complex and evolving interactions
between organisms and their environment including human dimensions such as political,
economic, and social realities/perceptions. Likewise, solutions to these environmental issues
are complex, evolving, and multidisciplinary. This is important for all fields of study including my
own dissertation research at the University of Arizona. I study stream ecology, specifically
aquatic invertebrates in desert rivers that are fed by treated wastewater. The long-range goal
of my research is to assess the potential of treated wastewater to support aquatic ecosystems
to help buffer the impacts of climate change and population growth on these aridland systems,
while also understanding the limitations of this artificial flow.