Pacific Institute
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Institute is a non-profit research institute created in 1987 to provide independent research and policy analysis on issues at the intersection of development, environment, and security
, with a particular focus on global and regional freshwater issues. It is located in Oakland, California
(USA).
The focus of the Institute is to find real-world solutions to problems like water shortages and contamination, environmental conflicts, global climate change
, and environmental terrorism
. The Institute conducts research, publishes reports, recommends solutions, and works with decision makers, advocacy groups, and the public to change policy.
Since its founding, the Institute has become known for analysis that cuts across traditional areas of study especially on issues in the hydrologic sciences, water management, and water policy. Its interdisciplinary approach is applied to resource issues, strategies for community involvement, and economic globalization
, and they also address the misuse and abuse of science in the policy context. (See, for example, the Institute's 2007 testimony on the integrity of science to the U.S. Congress)
Institute staff are especially known for their work on new thinking around sustainable water resources
management and use. (See, for example, reports in Science Magazine
[2003] and Nature
[2002].) In 2011, the Institute was awarded the first U.S. Water Prize. Researchers at the Institute also defined the concept of peak water
.
The director and co-founder of the Pacific Institute is Dr. Peter Gleick
, a MacArthur Fellow and member of the National Academy of Sciences
.
The Institute also produces a biennial report on freshwater resources, called The World's Water (published by Island Press, Washington, D.C.
)., ,
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
, with a particular focus on global and regional freshwater issues. It is located in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
(USA).
The focus of the Institute is to find real-world solutions to problems like water shortages and contamination, environmental conflicts, global climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, and environmental terrorism
Environmental terrorism
Environmental terrorism is the unlawful destruction of resources in order to deprive others of its use. The term also refers to the unnecessary destruction of the environment for personal gain...
. The Institute conducts research, publishes reports, recommends solutions, and works with decision makers, advocacy groups, and the public to change policy.
Since its founding, the Institute has become known for analysis that cuts across traditional areas of study especially on issues in the hydrologic sciences, water management, and water policy. Its interdisciplinary approach is applied to resource issues, strategies for community involvement, and economic globalization
Economic globalization
Economic globalization refers to increasing economic interdependence of national economies across the world through a rapid increase in cross-border movement of goods, service, technology and capital...
, and they also address the misuse and abuse of science in the policy context. (See, for example, the Institute's 2007 testimony on the integrity of science to the U.S. Congress)
Institute staff are especially known for their work on new thinking around sustainable water resources
Water resources
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water....
management and use. (See, for example, reports in Science Magazine
Science Magazine
Science Magazine was a half-hour television show produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1975 to 1979.The show was hosted by geneticist David Suzuki, who previously hosted the daytime youth programme Suzuki On Science...
[2003] and Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
[2002].) In 2011, the Institute was awarded the first U.S. Water Prize. Researchers at the Institute also defined the concept of peak water
Peak water
The term Peak Water has been put forward as a concept to help understand growing constraints on the availability, quality, and use of freshwater resources...
.
The director and co-founder of the Pacific Institute is Dr. Peter Gleick
Peter Gleick
Dr. Peter H. Gleick is a scientist working on issues related to the environment, economic development, and international security, with a focus on global freshwater challenges. He works at the Pacific Institute in Oakland, California, which he co-founded in 1987. In 2003 he was awarded a MacArthur...
, a MacArthur Fellow and member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
The Institute also produces a biennial report on freshwater resources, called The World's Water (published by Island Press, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
)., ,
Honors/Awards
- Awarded 2005 Excellence Award for Statewide/Institutional Innovations, California Urban Water Conservation Council
- Awarded 2007 Top Environmental Achievement Awards for Freshwater Protection and Restoration, Environment Now Foundation
- Recipient of the 2009 American Water Resources AssociationAmerican Water Resources AssociationFounded in 1964, the American Water Resources Association is a non-profit professional association dedicated to the advancement of men and women in water resources management, research, and education. With almost 2,500 members, it is the major U.S. organization in the field...
's (AWRA) "Csallany Award" for exemplary contributions to water resources - Recipient of 2009 Region 9 Award for Environmental Excellence from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- 2011 Winner of the first U.S. Water Prize.
External links
- Pacific Institute
- The World's Water — a water-related website maintained by the Pacific Institute