Dr. Kent Portney and Dr. Bryce Hannibal published a paper with ISTPP Fellows Dr. Bassel Daher, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University, and Dr. Rabi Mohtar of American University in Beirut on communication levels between water-energy-food nexus researchers and stakeholders within the Greater San Antonio Area. Their work titled “Toward Understanding the Convergence of Researcher and Stakeholder Perspectives Related to Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Challenges: The Case of San Antonio, Texas” appears in Environmental Science and Policy.
Their research evaluates levels of communication and “convergence” of knowledge between water-energy-food nexus researchers and regional stakeholders. Daher, Hannibal, Mohtar and Portney analyze data collected from a survey administered to 370 researchers and stakeholders from private, non-profit, and public sector organizations that work with water, energy, or food in the San Antonio region.
Results show there is little convergence between researchers and regional stakeholders regarding water, energy, and food. Researchers and stakeholders alike suggest increased communication and improved information sharing between relevant agencies could improve cooperation in combating the management challenges posed by interconnected resources. Daher, Hannibal, Mohtar and Portney conclude by suggesting reevaluating existing governance institutions and resource allocation methods for communicating between researchers and regional stakeholders if improved communication and greater convergence between the two the groups and desired.
Daher, Bassel, Bryce Hannibal, Rabi H. Mohtar, and Kent E. Portney. 2020. “Toward Understanding the Convergence of Researcher and Stakeholder Perspectives Related to Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Challenges: The Case of San Antonio, Texas.” Environmental Science and Policy 104: 20-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.10.020
