Marushka Grogan

 Introduction 

My name is Marushka Rose Grogan, and I'm a Hampshire College Division III student concentrating in water resources and conflict management. If you are interested in talking with me about water, conflict, communities, environmental mediation, the American Southwest, development studies, and quite a range of other things... let me know! I look forward to hearing from you. My email is: mrg09.

 Senior Thesis Project Proposal: Resolving Water Conflict: A Beginner’s Guide to Mediation Best Practices 

I see water as my focus for change because it is basic to every system, from the human body to global security and economic stability. Water as a focus of conflict or cooperation is of critical importance to long-term global wellbeing; for this reason, I seek effective ways to mediate and prevent water conflicts.

In my thesis project, I seek to research and identify best practices in water conflict management, towards developing the groundwork of a Water Mediator’s Handbook to make water conflict management best practices readily available to people with no background in water resources or conflict management.

I will accomplish this by: conducting a review of the current literature on water and resource conflict management; describing and analyzing 2-4 actual water conflict disputes that have resulted in both successful and unsuccessful negotiation; and identifying what factors contribute to successful mediation of water resource conflicts. I will also design, document and carry out a Water Workshop in January 2013 as a result of a President’s Grant. This workshop will feature a water mediation exercise with one of my “case study” water conflicts: I will develop briefing materials and assign roles for workshop participants to reach a resolution. I will include an annotated bibliography of the literature I use; and a retrospective documentation of the path my research has take throughout this project.

Throughout this project, I hope to deepen and share my knowledge of global and community-specific water issues, and to gain skills in negotiation and communication, systems thinking, and other relevant areas towards addressing conflicts and challenges. I will also continue to increase my understanding of areas that are connected to water resources, such as energy; food systems and security; United States water/resource law; economics; public health; applied design; intercultural communication; and water resources/management.

 Goals & Objectives  •	To identify how conflict mediation education affects a population’s ability to negotiate and address environmental [water] resource challenges. •	To gain skills in peace studies, negotiation and communication, systems thinking, and other relevant areas towards addressing conflicts and challenges. •	To identify effective ways to mediate and prevent water conflicts •	To conduct a review of the current literature on water and environmental resource conflict management. •	To research and incorporate best practices from other environmental conflict resolution projects. •	To establish the groundwork for at Water Mediator’s Handbook – or, time and resources permitting, to produce one. •	To design and implement a January Water Workshop for faculty and staff of the College. •	To consider the social, cultural, and environmental causes and effects of water resource challenges •	To continue to grow my understanding of the areas that are connected to local and global water resources, such as energy; food systems and security; United States water/resource law; economics; public health; applied design; intercultural communication; and water resources/management.

 Other Interests 

Reading, creativity, art movements and art history, paper art, weaving/textiles, technology, development studies, the American Southwest, Native American cultures, playing violin/fiddle music, tea/coffee, taking walks, making soup with whatever ingredients are at hand.