The UCGHI Water and Health Research Conference will highlight University of California leadership in planetary health by examining water as a central connector between environmental change, human, animal, and ecosystem well-being.
UCGHI has a proven track record of convening University of California (UC) researchers and global partners to elevate cutting-edge research, training, education, and advocacy. To date, 10 systemwide research conferences across 8 UC campuses (2 virtual), reaching more than 2,715 participants in person and 1,533 virtually, with over 4,800 total registrants from 56 countries.
Bringing together researchers and community and government partners across disciplines, the UCGHI Water and Health Research Conference, "Planetary Health at the Water Nexus," will explore how climate-driven extremes, groundwater depletion, contamination, declining aquatic biodiversity, and inequitable access to safe water collectively threaten both ecosystem integrity and community health. Positioned at the intersection of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), the conference emphasizes that freshwater and marine systems form an inseparable continuum—linked through watershed-to-ocean processes, shared contaminants, and coupled human–natural feedback.
Speakers will highlight water resources management strategies, innovations in nature-based water solutions, distributed recharge, water-quality monitoring, coastal resilience, and community-partnered strategies that enhance adaptation for the most vulnerable populations and ecosystems.
By framing water systems as foundational to planetary health, this conference is designed to move beyond problem definition toward solutions. The event will foster new cross-campus collaborations, connect fundamental science with applied and community-engaged research, and identify shared priorities for advancing water and health solutions across California and beyond.
Event Overview
Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm PT (Tentative)
Location: Zoom and UC Davis (Hybrid)
This hybrid one-day convening will bring together University of California researchers across hydrology, geochemistry, ecology, engineering, public health, policy, and social sciences. Program elements will include:
- Plenary sessions on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) focused on synthesis, shared challenges, and research gaps.
- Parallel thematic sessions highlighting science, policy, and practice, chaired by University of California faculty aligned with their expertise.
- Poster presentations by students at all levels.
- Discussions to identify research priorities and policy recommendations for advancing water and health solutions across California and globally.
The full conference agenda will be available by September 2026.
- Ndola Prata, MD, MSc UCGHI Associate Director, UC Berkeley
- Fernando Mardones, PhD, MPVM UCGHI Advisory Council, University of Edinburgh
- Georgia Kayser, PhD UCGHI Center for Planetary Health, UC San Diego
- Samantha Ying, PhD UCGHI Center for Planetary Health, UC Riverside
- Aiko Dora Adell Nakashima, DVM, MPVM, PhD UCGHI Center for Planetary Health, Universidad Andres Bello
- Felix Opoku (PhD Student) UCGHI Water and Health Fellow, UC Merced
- Foster new cross-campus and interdisciplinary collaborations.
- Connect academic researchers with applied and community-engaged researchers.
- Identify actionable research directions and gaps at the water–health nexus.
- Build networks across academic, policy, and community-engaged research communities.
UCGHI Center for Planetary Health Publications
Rift Valley fever vaccines for animals and people: Envisioning One Health vaccination strategies , Planetary Health, 2026
The combined effect of extreme heat and COVID-19 on agricultural labor supply in California communities , Planetary Health, 2025
