ECo Talks: The Future of Water Security in the Gulf with Raha Hakimdavar
Dr. Raha Hakimdavar, Senior Advisor to the Dean of Georgetown University Earth Commons and the Dean of Georgetown University in Qatar, will present her talk, “The Future of Water Security in the Gulf,” as part of the ECo Talks series produced by the Earth Commons.
About the Speaker: Raha Hakimdavar is Senior Advisor to the Dean of Georgetown University Earth Commons and the Dean of Georgetown University in Qatar in the areas of climate, environment, and innovation. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Non-resident Fellow at the Middle East Institute, and the Founder and CEO of Zyon Space, a climate-tech startup that develops climate adaptation solutions using the vantage point of space.
Dr. Hakimdavar was previously the Director of Space Sciences at Ball Aerospace, where she led business strategy and engagements with NASA and the broader space sciences community. She served in civil servant appointments with the USDA and NASA prior to this. At the USDA Forest Service, she was the national watershed program hydrologist and acting national program lead for remote sensing and geospatial analysis research, successfully leading initiatives and securing funds to integrate satellite data into forest level decision-making. Her leadership as a Presidential Management Fellow at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center led to a revision of UN Environment’s reporting methodology for the Sustainable Development Goal on Water and Sanitation and creation of a US Government wide global hydrology model for water security that is currently being operated by the US Air Force. Dr. Hakimdavar has served as a technical consultant for UN Environment, the World Bank, and USAID on disaster risk reduction, water, and forestry projects for over a decade.
Dr. Hakimdavar holds a B.S. in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in hydrology from Columbia University. She served as a Fulbright Fellow in Water Management in the Netherlands and was awarded the 2018 KLM Sustainability and Innovation award for her efforts.
About the Talk: The Gulf region, characterized by arid climates and rapid urbanization, faces an unprecedented confluence of factors impacting water security. As climate change intensifies, existing resources are increasingly stressed, leading to a heavier reliance on energy intensive desalination. This talk will explore the dynamic and evolving nature of water security in the Gulf and outline strategic pathways for a sustainable future. It will also provide an overview of the ECo collaboration at Georgetown University in Qatar.
Event Details: Light refreshments will be provided. Free and open to all. No RSVP required. In person and online event Zoom ID 93082466514.
About the Series: Every Friday beginning on January 26th, ECo Talks features scholars, leaders and innovators sparking conversation, sharing knowledge, and spurring change. ECo Talks are presented by the Earth Commons Fridays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm in Arrupe Hall Conference Room. Learn more about the series >>