- Lecture highlights groundwater’s global importance.
- Architect and researcher Anthony Acciavatti shares decades of fieldwork.
- Free public event scheduled for October 23 at Arizona State University.
Arizona State University will host a public lecture titled Groundwater Earth: The Hidden Frontline of Climate Change
on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Biodesign Institute in Tempe. The event will explore how groundwater sustains billions of people while also facing unprecedented pressures from overuse.
Architect, cartographer, and researcher Anthony Acciavatti will present findings from over twenty years of work studying groundwater extraction and its global implications. Tools such as tubewells and borewells have enabled communities across the world to thrive, but widespread pumping is now raising concerns that aquifers may not keep pace with demand. Hydrologists estimate that nearly half the world’s population depends on groundwater daily, and that more than half of the world’s irrigated farmland relies on it.
The Speaker: Mapping Water and Human Survival.
Acciavatti’s work examines how the “hidden underworlds” of the earth shape the ways people live, farm, and build cities. He is the author of Ganges Water Machine, an award-winning book produced after nearly ten years of walking 15,000 kilometers across the Ganges River basin. That research, which investigated conflicts over water for drinking, farming, and industry, is part of the permanent collection at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
His broader body of work has been exhibited internationally, from the Milan Triennial to biennials in Venice, Seoul, Rotterdam, and Quito. Currently, Acciavatti is the inaugural Diana Balmori Associate Professor at Yale University, a founding partner of Somatic Collaborative, and director of the Ganges Field Lab at Collaborative Earth.
Event Details.
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Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
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Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time)
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Location: Biodesign Institute, Building A, Room L1/10-14 (Lower Level), 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona
- Event Web Page at ASU
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Cost: Free
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Contact: Corrie Griffith, Program Manager, ASU Water Institute (corrie.griffith@asu.edu)
FAQ
What is groundwater?
Groundwater is water stored underground in soil, sand, and rock formations known as aquifers. It supplies drinking water and irrigation across the world.
Why is groundwater so important?
Nearly half of the global population relies on groundwater for drinking. More than half of the world’s irrigated farmland depends on it to grow crops.
What problems are linked to groundwater use?
The main concern is over-extraction. Pumping water faster than aquifers can naturally recharge may lead to declining water levels, land subsidence, and long-term scarcity.
Who is Anthony Acciavatti?
Anthony Acciavatti is an architect, cartographer, and researcher whose work focuses on the relationship between water, landscapes, and human society. He is best known for his book Ganges Water Machine and currently teaches at Yale University.
Why is Arizona State University hosting this event?
As part of its water research programs, ASU frequently hosts experts to share perspectives on global water issues. The event is free and open to the public to encourage community learning and engagement.
