Responsible AI Growth & Water Sustainability
How might we educate communities and the public in Alberta to balance the opportunities and growth of AI, while minimizing the impact on water systems?
The Responsible AI Growth & Water Sustainability trio worked to better understand how Artificial Intelligence (AI) generation might interact with water systems in more sustainable ways. As more industries and individuals are discovering how AI can enhance their work and daily lives, Lama, Shannon, and Lauren sought to understand the systems that influence our relationships with AI and water use, and how we might align actions with our values.
Portfolio of Learning
Reflection by Lama Al-Wadeiah
Participating in the Catamount Fellowship was a valuable experience that expanded my understanding of the complex relationship between technology, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. Before the fellowship, I understood the bare minimum when it came to water systems and how they impacted the environment, infrastructure, and our communities. Through the conversations I had with my trio and my extensive research, I learned so much and still have so much to learn about water in Alberta. Secondly, I gained a deeper appreciation for how technological innovation can create both opportunities and environmental challenges.
Another important takeaway was the importance of examining issues from multiple perspectives. While AI infrastructure can drive economic growth, investment, and technological advancement, it can also raise concerns about resource consumption, environmental impacts, and digital sovereignty. Exploring these competing viewpoints helped me develop stronger critical thinking skills and a more nuanced understanding of current issues.
I chose to create a blog as my final deliverable because it allowed me to combine research-based information with personal reflection. The first part of my blog presents factual information and recent developments related to AI infrastructure, while the second part offers my own perspective as someone relatively new to the water and environmental sector. I felt this format was effective because it made the topic accessible to a broader audience while also encouraging readers to think critically about the hidden systems that support the technologies they use every day. The blog format also provided the flexibility to connect technical information with personal learning, making the final project both informative and engaging.
