Sustainability Leadership Fellow Cohort: 2026-2027

Ph.D. Student, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory

Research Summary: My research explores practical ways to reduce household water use by improving irrigation scheduling and water reuse. Outside, I study residential lawn irrigation and how uncertainty in weather forecasts affects watering decisions by comparing National Weather Service forecasts with local climate data. I analyze how these differences influence evapotranspiration estimates and can lead to over or under watering. Inside the home, I evaluate shower water reuse systems that recycle lightly used water for toilet flushing, examining real water savings, costs, and user behavior. Together, this work aims to reduce household water use and strengthen drought resilience in dry regions.

Advisor: Steven Fassnacht