The URC is an alliance between MSU, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University to grow and transform the state’s economy, URC executive director Jeff Mason said.

With nearly $1.7 billion in research activity each year, the URC holds research symposiums dealing with issues ranging from sustainability to cerebral palsy, he said.

Although the conference was a one-time effort, Mason said it hopefully will lead to more projects and funding dealing with the water issue.

“The goal was to bring more collective focus on these large scale water challenges in hopes that focusing more minds on these issues potentially will lead to new and novel solutions,” he said.

The program focused on three primary areas of water use including water and energy, water and health and water and landscape, Mason said.

“Water defines the state of Michigan,” he said. “We need to address environmental issues surrounding water systems.”

Joan Rose, MSU’s Homer Nowlin chair in Water Research, who coordinated the university’s involvement in the conference, said it was the first step in developing new ideas and technology to solve some of the critical issues facing the Great Lakes and other natural sources of water around the world.

“We use water for everything,” Rose said. “The global water market itself is worth about $770 billion.”

The conference included exhibits, posters, field tours and key note presentations, Rose said.

“We wanted a conference that was interactive,” she said. “It’s important that we create new entities where we can look at developing new science while also educating next-generation professionals.”

Although packaging senior Steve Jackson wasn’t familiar with the URC, he said it seems like the university is putting a good effort toward scientific research on the issue.

“We need to keep our water clean,” Jackson said.

“Research in that area is very important, especially in Michigan.”