The second URSYS workshop was held at the Center for River Studies at the LSU Water Campus on November 3-5, 2023. The workshop brought 20 researchers and community stakeholders from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, together with researchers and community stakeholders from Louisiana, to continue discussing common research themes along the urban-rural gradient of the cities along the Mississippi River.
Research themes were discussed in working groups on Community-engaged research methods, Storytelling as data collection, Water challenges such as nutrient and stormwater trading, Urban nature and Forest biodiversity, Urban Heat Island mitigation and Climate risk resilience mapping, Vacant Land related Urban Policy& Planning issues and Healthy communities.
To kick start the workshop, Craigh Colton, emeritus professor, engaged participants in a water management tour of urban swamp areas and wetlands in Baton Rouge. A lunch meeting with Hayride brought the participants to Burden Gardens and the LSU Ag Center. Sunday lunch was served on the deck of the water campus overlooking the mighty river before everyone headed back to their home institution /city.
