David J. Molden, an international water expert will discuss water and food at a free public presentation Thursday at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Molden is deputy director general for research at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), an international research center in Sri Lanka. He will discuss "Will there be Enough Water to Grow Enough Food?" at 3:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union auditorium. After his talk, Molden will answer audience questions.

Molden has extensive experience in water management, especially with issues of managing water for agriculture. His passion for water grew from his experience helping villagers organize a drinking water well in Lesotho. He has a doctorate from Colorado State University with specialties in groundwater hydrology and irrigation. He has since developed broader interests in integrating social and technical aspects of water management with work across Asia and Africa. He enjoys interdisciplinary and cross-cultural teamwork with IWMI and partners to solve local water problems.

Molden recently coordinated a global program involving more than 700 participants to produce a Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, with results documented in the publication Water for Food, Water for Life, which he edited. The assessment examines trends, conditions, challenges and responses in water management for agriculture to enable effective investments and management decisions for enhancing food and environmental security.