A key principle inherent in sustainability issues is the idea of utilizing current resources wisely so as to not jeopardize their use by future generations. Water is one such resource whose demand is in danger of outstripping its supply. Efficient water use and re-use provides chemists with enormous opportunities to develop green alternatives in manufacturing practices, and to create systems that maintain and perhaps even improve the quality of our current supply. However, before we can ' chart a path to water sustainability, we must first understand the complexity of the resource under study. This chapter describes a course on water that can serve as a pedagogical model for incorporating sustainability ideas into the liberal arts curriculum, while simultaneously introducing students to chemistry. As more and more educators seek to incorporate sustainability concepts into their courses, the seminar described here may serve as a model to implement similar courses at other institutions.
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