Gradate Affiliate Program: Past Affiliates
Madeline Goebel
Maddie was the first Graduate Affiliate to work with the Idaho Water Institute, in the Spring of 2020. She was a master’s student in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) during her time with us. Her research explored risk and behavior in Idaho's Coeur d'Alene Basin, a popular region for outdoor recreation that is impacted by heavy metal contamination. At the Water Institute, Maddie was helping with several projects and is providing a fresh insight that we were excited to have. She was truly an asset to our team, and we were sad to see her time with us end.
Jaz Ammon
Jaz Ammon was a master’s student in the University of Idaho’s Water Research Program, during his time with the Water Institute, Fall 2020. He was working on a captivating research project that will aid in preparing for wildfires and in creating more resilient landscapes. Jaz is working on a research project led by Dr. Erin Brooks in the Department of Soil and Water Systems that will help fire-prone communities track vegetation regrowth after wildfires. This project will use a computer-based model called the Water Erosion Prediction Project (or WEPP) to analyze decades of weather patterns and stream flow both before and after natural disasters, to study the ways that these events impact landscapes. This tool is widely applicable and will play a key part Jaz’s ongoing research project. Again, we were sad to see our time with Jaz end as he was an asset to the team.
Riveraine Walters
Riveraine Walters was an interdisciplinary Ph.D. candidate in Water Resources at University of Idaho, during her work with the Idaho Water Institute, during Fall and Spring of 2020-2021 school year. Her dissertation research takes a contextual engineering approach to hydro-social challenges for smallholder farmers in Chile. As an Idaho Water Institute Affiliate, Raine has been working under U of I co-leads Karen Humes, Ph.D. and Jae Ryu, Ph.D. to help develop the Water Chapter for the McClure Center’s Idaho Climate-Economy Impacts Assessment (ICEIA). The Idaho Climate-Economy Impacts Assessment (ICEIA) is a nonpartisan, science-based resource to help Idahoans plan for a productive, prosperous and resilient Idaho economy. The assessment will connect the latest scientific research on Idaho’s changing climate with economic risks and opportunities that impact businesses, residents, and local and state economies. In addition, she has been responsible for literature reviews, proofreading, editing and collaborating with authors of other chapters/sections.
Upon graduation this May 2021, Raine intends to continue learning and growing in this wicked field of water and society, by exploring compassion for seminatural suffering through disaster chaplaincy. She is also currently serving as a reservist with the federal government to respond to disasters in her capacity as an environmental floodplain specialist and plans to continue that service. Raine also intends to continue researching and publication contributions to multiple fields and to further U of I’s legacy of leading as a proud Vandal.