AWWA Water Science Author Spotlight

Abstract

Having recently published an article in AWWA Water Science, Jennifer Biddle answered some questions from its editor-in-chief Kenneth L. Mercer about the research. Autonomy Matters: Insights From U.S. Water Utility Managers on Governance Structure Jennifer stands near a horse barn, where she is celebrating her nine-year-old's shared love of horses. As a child, I loved playing in the creek in our suburban neighborhood, catching salamanders and tadpoles with my brother. We would observe them for hours. After the highway bypass was built and residential development exploded, the woods around the creek were cleared and the land paved over. We watched the nature of our creek change from thriving ecosystem to an eroded drainage way. The water became murky, the rocks were covered with sediment, and the creatures we loved disappeared. That was my first lesson on how land use affects water quality. After college I interned at an environmental consulting firm, where I performed water quality analyses for environmental impact assessments. That experience taught me the value of Clean Water Act regulations. Graduate school helped me pair the two, and my research looks at the confluence of science, public policy, and public administration, evaluating governance factors that build or block adaptive capacity for resilience in linked socio-ecological systems. Jennifer kayaks at the mouth of the Pamlico River in Goose Creek State Park in North Carolina. © 2015 Sara Marriott. I am fortunate to have learned from many incredible teachers and mentors over the years. One of the most impactful pieces of advice for me was to follow my interests and trust the process. I switched research topics halfway through my tenure track, and many colleagues encouraged me to wait until I had received tenure to follow my research interests. My mentor encouraged me to pursue the research I was passionate about and to trust the process of diligent research toward the goal of getting articles published. Taken in June 2016 at the AWWA Annual Conference & Exposition in Chicago, Jennifer cools off in the Polk Bros. Foundation fountain. Our AWWA Water Science article is part of a larger study (stay tuned . . .) to understand which governance features are important for improving water utility sustainability. Our hope is that this knowledge helps inform management decisions about where to invest resources to provide water utilities the capability to adapt to changing conditions. We are really fortunate to live on the coast, with easy access to the river, marshes, and the sea. I love to swim, kayak, and play in and near the water. I expose my children to all the wonders of the aquatic environment so they can appreciate and love it as much as I do. To learn more about Jennifer's research, visit the article online at https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1140.