Hi, I'm Cody Knutson, a water resources scientist for the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) and a research professor in the School of Natural Resources. I also serve as a faculty member with the geography program, specializing in environmental geography.
My main interests are focused on the interactions between humans and the environment. In particular, my current work is focused on helping people understand how they are vulnerable to water scarcity, drought, and climate change; and collaborating with stakeholders to develop tools and plans to reduce their risk. My main goal is to help people enhance water resources management through research, education and collaboration.
This work is carried out at the individual, community, tribe, state, national and international scale through a broad range of projects. For example, I'm currently involved in several studies to assess the climate and water information needs of farmers, ranchers, and natural resource managers in the Great Plains and Midwest. This information is being used to develop new tools and planning guides to help stakeholders better adapt and respond to climate variability. Similarly, I'm involved with the Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative to examine public involvement and the role of citizens in solving water problems.
I've also assisted communities, tribes and states to develop drought plans. Currently, I'm working with several pilot communities in Nebraska, Illinois and Oklahoma to develop drought plans, and a national "Drought Ready" community certification program, as well as assisting the State of Colorado in updating their plan.
I also spend a good deal of my time working on international projects. I've worked with several United Nations (i.e. FAO, ISDR, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF) and other organizations to research the effects of water scarcity, drought, and climate change on environmental systems and livelihoods; identify risk reduction practices; develop drought policy and planning guidance documents; and facilitate international training sessions. Most recently, I conducted a review of UNDP's Community Water Initiative - an international community action program to promote sustainable water management, and collaborated with UNICEF/UNESCO and FAO to host drought management trainings for officials from Iraq and the Middle East/Central Asia, respectively.
Outreach is an important component of my work. Therefore, I give many presentations throughout the year, help organize and present educational workshops, and write materials for our website. I also advise graduate students in the School of Natural Resources and geography program who are conducting water management and drought-related research, and teach periodically on topics related to the human dimensions of natural resources management and environmental geography.
I've worked intermittently as a staff member at the NDMC since 1997 and was promoted to a faculty position in December 2004. I received bachelor's and master's degrees in geological engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines of Technology, specializing in water resources. At UNL, I also received a master's degree in anthropology and a doctorate in geography. I believe the combination of physical and social science perspectives provides a necessary base for understanding the interactions between people, and the water resources upon which they depend.
Currently this page only displays grants that were awarded on 1/1/ 2009 to the present. If a grant was awarded prior to 1/1/ 2009 and is still active, it will not be displayed on this page.
Master of Applied Science
Master of Science in Natural Resource Sciencesincluding specializations in
Doctorate of Philosophy in Natural Resource Sciencesincluding specializations in