NDMC-affiliated faculty member Mike Hayes is the recipient of a Holling Family Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching and Learning.By NDMC Communications
NDMC staff participate in Water for Food conference
NDMC staff and affiliated researchers are participating in the 11th annual Water for Food Global Conference in Lincoln from April 28–May 2, 2025, hosted by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska.
Mark Svoboda, NDMC director, and Jesse Bell, UNMC Water, Climate and Health Program director, organized a panel on Global Drought Management and Resilience: Moving Beyond UNCCD COP16. Svoboda is one of the speakers.
Kelly Helm Smith, NDMC assistant director and drought impacts coordinator, organized a panel on agro-climatic safety nets.
Svoboda also organized a panel on Advancing Drought Risk Management in a Changing Climate and is one of the speakers. Helm Smith is one of the speakers.
The conference convenes 400 leading experts and organizations from around the globe to explore water and food sustainability research, expand technologies and share knowledge.
Study views intersection of drought and climate non-stationarity
The process of drought assessment is complicated by climate change-related issues. A new paper coauthored by NDMC Monitoring Coordinator Brian Fuchs highlights the challenges of assessing drought in a non-stationary climate. To address these challenges, researchers identified 10 key research priorities for advancing drought science and improving assessments in a changing climate.
Researchers conclude that improved drought assessments will inform better risk management, adaptation strategies and planning. This is especially true in areas where climate change significantly alters drought dynamics.
"Prioritization of Research on Drought Assessment in a Changing Climate” was published in Earth’s Future in March.
New article outlines pathways to global drought resilience
Mark Svoboda co-authored “Drought resilience demands urgent global actions and cooperation,” published in Nature Water in February.
The article provides a follow-up on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s 16th Conference of the Parties (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh in December 2024. At the meeting, participants discussed the need to improve drought risk assessment, develop and implement transformative solutions and boost policy actions.
Study assesses West Nile Virus forecasting methods
Despite the prevalence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the continental U.S., efforts to forecast the virus’ spread have had limited success. Researchers including Kelly Helm Smith submitted forecasts to the 2022 WNV Forecasting Challenge, analyzed their skill, and published results in Parasites & Vectors in April.
Researchers assessed the skill of different types of forecasts, including an ensemble created from team-specific forecasts. They characterized the impact of model characteristics and county-specific factors like population on forecast skill. The best forecast for 2022 was the ensemble forecast, and its relative success suggests potential gains in community ability to forecast WNV.
Seminar series focuses on drought in Hawaii
Brian Fuchs coordinated a March Seminar Series, New Tools and Applications for Drought Management in Hawaii. This series features experts discussing drought monitoring, assessment and resource management tools designed to support decision-making in Hawaii’s unique landscapes.
Hayes receives excellence in teaching award
NDMC-affiliated faculty member Mike Hayes is the recipient of a Holling Family Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching and Learning for the 2024-25 academic year. This award is accompanied by a $5,000 stipend. Hayes will be recognized at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Awards Luncheon in May.