Florida’s burgeoning population, and the vulnerability of its water resources to climate and other human-induced environmental change, make the state a unique living laboratory in which to develop new knowledge and test solutions to global water issues. In recognition of the importance of water issues, and the need to address them in an interdisciplinary manner, the University of Florida (UF) established a campus-wide, interdisciplinary Water Institute in 2006.

Since its inception, the UF Water Institute has emerged as a leader in coordinating interdisciplinary research, education and outreach programs which focus on terrestrial water systems and their interactions with human, coastal and atmospheric systems.