Water is our most precious resource and this month, RDA will host a two-part civic forum on water supply issues in the State of Texas and the Houston region on August 24 and August 31, 2011. Texas is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in its recorded history. Compounding this problem is the fact that many of the state’s aquifers have been in decline for many years. Water quality is emerging as a serious issue facing the Houston region. Will the state’s water supplies be adequate to support Houston’s growing population and continuing industrialization?

EVENT INFORMATION

The forums, which are free and open to the public, will take place at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Brown Auditorium in the Caroline Wiess Law Building. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is located at 1001 Bissonnet (enter via the Main Street door). Additional parking at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is available until 7:00 p.m. for $6 in the museum garage located at the corner of Binz and Fannin Streets.

Urban Growth and Competition for Water

Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 6:30 p.m.

Panelists: Jason Afinowicz, Water Resources, Freese, and Nichols, Inc.,
Dr. James Lester, Vice President, Houston Advanced Research Center,
Edward G. Vaughan, Chair, Texas Water Development Board

Moderators: Eric Berger, Houston Chronicle Science Writer; and Thomas Colbert, Associate Professor, University of Houston, College of Architecture

Click here for a link to the YouTube video of a ten minute selection of highlights from the forum.
Click on this link to go to the YouTube video of the full forum.

Water Quality Issues and Solutions to Water Shortages

Wednesday, August 31, 2011, 6:30 p.m.

Panelists: Jun Chang, Civil and Environmental Engineer, Deputy Director of Public Works, City of Houston, Dr. John Jacob, TAMU/Texas Sea Grant, Director Texas Coastal Watershed Program, Dr. Hanadi S. Rifai, Professor and Director of Environmental Engineering Graduate Program, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston

Moderators: Mark Greenblatt, Investigative Reporter, KHOU, and Thomas Colbert

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The Rice Design Alliance (RDA) will host a civic forum on March 9, 2011 that focuses on hurricane planning and preparation in the Houston region. RDA’s spring lecture series, New Orleans: 5 Years After, concentrated on revitalization techniques and disaster prevention in the Crescent City. RDA hopes that similar lessons can be applied to the Houston/Galveston region in the wake of Hurricanes Rita and Ike. The forum will feature County Judge Ed Emmett, Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, and Rice environmental engineering professor Phil Bedient. Lonnie Hoogeboom, Director of Planning and Design at Houston Downtown Management District, and Rafael Longoria, ACSA Distinguished Professor of Architecture, University of Houston, will moderate the discussion.

What:
Rice Design Alliance Civic Forum

When:
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 7p.m.

Where:
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Brown Auditorium in the Caroline Wiess Law Building. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is located at 1001 Bissonnet (enter via the Main Street door). Additional parking at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is available until 7:00 p.m. for $6 in the museum garage located at the corner of Binz and Fannin Streets.

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RDA Announces Planning: Post Hurricane Ike
Free Civic Forum Series to Address Hurricane Policy, Response, and Protection for the Houston-Galveston Region

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With the arrival of a new hurricane season, the Rice Design Alliance announced a series of civic forums focused on examining the risks facing the Houston-Galveston region and the possible solutions to public policy and design challenges.

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In Europe and many other places, the idea of “EcoCities” now dominates discussion of planning for a “green” future. This forum built on a previous gathering, which focused on sustainability as a balance of economy, community, and environment. In this session, the panelists explored how the government’s mandate to protect its citizens might play out in an EcoCity agenda.

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Houstonians are at war over the development of the infrastructure upgrades of their public transport system; a fight that pits the community’s wishes against private interests.

If Houston had a comprehensive plan in place, would we still have this transit conundrum?

The RDA Civic Forum “Rail On” addressed these and other issues surrounding the development of rail in Houston on Wednesday, February 28, 2007. The panel was moderated by Ray Schaeffer and included Christof Spieler and Ted Richardson. The event was held at the Brown Auditorium of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

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A Series of Civic Forums Presented by the Rice Design Alliance

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People, Planet, Prosperity
Prospects for Sustainability in Houston
A Series of Civic Forums Sponsored by the Rice Design Alliance

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RDA’s 2004 civic forum series, entitled Earth, Fire, and Wind, was a self-assessment of the Houston region at the beginning of a new century. It began on Wednesday, June 30.

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