NDMC staff facilitated a drought scenario workshop in Salt Lake City, Utah, in March 2026. Photo courtesy Office of Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.NDMC Communications
Workshop helps Utah state agencies prepare for drought
NDMC staff facilitated a drought scenario workshop in Salt Lake City, Utah, in March. The exercise was in collaboration with the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Water Resources and the Western Water Assessment. NDMC staff members involved include Cody Knutson, planning coordinator, and Tonya Bernadt, education and outreach specialist.
The workshop guided participants through three escalating drought scenarios, beginning with current conditions in the state and progressing to a multi-year drought characterized by extreme to exceptional severity.
Attendees represented a wide range of Utah state agencies and sectors. Key outcomes from the workshop include a clearer understanding of roles and responsibilities during drought response, as well as the importance of improved and more streamlined communication strategies across agencies.
New paper published on science communication during a crisis
Effective communication is crucial for addressing global water crises. A new study synthesizes insights from the hydrological community and identifies key challenges and best practices across three inter-related domains of communication. "Effective science communication in the face of water crises: a community perspective on challenges and best practice in HELPING," published in Hydrological Sciences Journal on March 6. Hasnat Aslam, NDMC GIS specialist, is a co-author.
Williss receives 2026 Moncure Student Support Award
Rachel Williss, NDMC research assistant, was a recipient of the 2026 Moncure Student Support Award. This is a memorial scholarship for Human Dimensions graduate students with research interests including local foods, sustainable agriculture, volunteerism and teaching.
Bathke receives SNR Extended Service Faculty Award
Deb Bathke, Nebraska state climatologist and NDMC affiliated faculty, received the Extended Service Faculty Award at the SNR spring banquet on April 11. This award recognizes faculty who have made a substantial impact on the school's mission over the course of their career at UNL.