Ida Lunde Hygum

I am a doctoral student at the Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC) and part of the Agenda 2030 Graduate School. In my previous studies I have received a degree in Environmental Engineering with focus on water resources from the Technical University of Denmark. Throughout my studies I have focused on water savings and water resource management both in a Danish and in an international context.

Access to clean drinking water is central for sustainable development, stability, and peace.  Half of global water supply is based on groundwater, a resource stored deep below the ground, “invisible” until it is pumped to the surface. Groundwaters are complex systems which means any prediction or model is associated with a large degree of uncertainty. Protection and management of groundwater resources are often underprioritized, which can have long term consequences for present and future water users.  My PhD project aims at making groundwater resources visible in the political context and investigating what knowledge is needed to better protect groundwater resources.