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The University of New Mexico

Mission and Vision

photo: a body of water with mountains behind it

Mission Statement

The mission of the Center for Water and the Environment (CWE) is to advance equitable and sustainable stewardship of water, energy, and environmental resources in water-stressed regions through rigorous interdisciplinary research, education, workforce development, public service, and outreach.

CWE provides a distinctly engineering-driven perspective, integrating water resources and environmental engineering with the natural sciences (including physics, chemistry, biology, and geology), social sciences (including geography, economics, and sociology), and formal sciences (including mathematics, computer science, and statistics). Through this convergence, we develop solution-oriented, place-based, and systems-level approaches that enhance human and ecosystem resilience.

We are committed to supporting local, tribal, and regional agencies and communities by delivering engineering-based research, technical assistance, decision-support tools, and capacity-building services that address real-world challenges in water and environmental management.

This mission is grounded in a robust workforce development framework that prioritizes hands-on research, mentoring, and community-engaged training. CWE proudly prepares STEM talent who will represent New Mexico worldwide by advancing sustainable water and environmental solutions across local, regional, national, and global contexts.

Vision Statement

CWE aspires to be a globally recognized leader in advancing how society understands, manages, and sustains water and environmental resources in water-stressed regions. We envision contributing to a future in which:

  1. Real-time data streams, long-term observations, and predictive models are integrated to inform decision-making before, during, and after disturbances that affect ecosystems and communities.
  2. Advanced water and environmental treatment and resource-recovery technologies protect public health while safeguarding ecosystem integrity.
  3. Engineering-based remediation strategies address persistent challenges in surface water, groundwater, and coupled subsurface systems.
  4. Resource-rich but complex water sources, including atmospheric water, deep aquifers, brines, and impacted waters, are characterized, evaluated, and managed responsibly.
  5. Food-energy-water systems are approached holistically to support resilient, equitable, and sustainable outcomes.
  6. Water and environmental solutions are technically sound and financially viable, institutionally supported, and equitably implemented, enabling utilities, agencies, and communities to plan, invest, and adapt over the long term.

Through this vision, CWE aims to shape engineering practice, evidence-based policy development, and implementation pathways, ensuring that innovative research translates into sustainable, affordable, and equitable solutions that improve the quality of life locally, regionally, and globally.