SSI Technical Seminar Series
A part of the UCSD Campus Water Collaborative

Speakers are chosen based on recommendations by the UCSD Campus Collaborative team members including faculty, facilities management and operations staff. Topics will include cutting edge water technologies identified by the Collaborative as having potential for implementation on campus.

To suggest a speaker for the seminar series, please contact Kim McIntyre at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (858) 822-2521

The SSI Technical Seminar Series is open to UCSD faculty, staff, and students.
To RSVP, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Wednesdays, 4 pm - 5 pm
CALIT2, room 4004

Directions to CALIT2

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   "Perspectives from the San Diego County Water Authority"

   Wednesday, October 21, 2009  
   4 pm - 5 pm

   Featuring Bill Rose, Water Conservation Program Executive,
   San Diego County Water Authority

   Bill Rose is responsible for the acquisition, management, and land
   surveying of the Water Authority’s rights of way. His department is an
   integral part of the agency’s effort to implement the Capital Improvement 
   Program through the acquisition of rights of way. The long-term
management and surveying of those property rights provides the ability to operate and maintain
pipelines and facilities into the future. Rose joined the Water Authority in February 2001.

For Bill Rose's power point presentation, click here.

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   "Inexpensive Desalination: Harnessing Natural Forces”"

   Wednesday, November 18, 2009  
   4 pm - 5 pm

   Featuring Michael Motherway, President of DXV Water Technologies, LLC

Mr. Motherway has extensive experience in the development of energy resources particularly natural gas power plants. In additional to developing and financing traditional power plants, he assisted in the development of alternative energy sources such as wind farms and industrial cogeneration facilities. These efforts were on behalf of some large independent power producers and investor owned utilities.

While at the National Energy Group he helped develop an innovative dispersed generating portfolio that included the commissioning six plants (350 megawatts) in just three years from start of development. At NEV Technologies, he was involved in the commercialization of a new microturbine generator. As a consultant, he has evaluated new energy technologies and renewable projects on behalf of investors.

Mr. Motherway started his career in the finance department at AlliedSignal Aerospace and has economics degrees from Princeton University (BA) and the University of California at Santa Barbara (MA).

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   Wednesday, December 9, 2009  
   4 pm - 5 pm

   Featuring Josiah Raison Cain, Landscape Architect and Founder of Native
   Systems and Design Ecology

   Mr. Cain is a landscape architect with 16 years experience as an ecological
   design professional. He founded a design/build firm in 1997, and for 8 years
   provided ecologically-driven master plans and innovative green projects to
   hospitality, schools, developers, and residential clients internationally. After
   graduate studies, Cain then managed an office for an influential, nationally
   recognized ecological design firm, leading project teams for civic clients such
   as the New York Dept. of Environmental Protection(DEP), University of
California, and the California Academy of Sciences, in addition to a high-end corporate and
residential clientele. Cain was raised on a remote organic homestead along the Trinity River, in
Northern California. He holds a BS in landscape architecture from UC Davis and a Master of
Design Technology & Environment from Harvard Graduate School of Design.

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   Wednesday, January 13, 2009  
   4 pm - 5 pm

   Featuring Marsi Steirer, Water Resources and Planning Deputy Director for the Water
   Department, Public Works, City of San Diego

Marsi A. Steirer is the Deputy Director for the Long-Range Planning and Water Resources division in the newly merged Public Utilities Department. In this capacity Marsi is responsible for formulating the Department’s water policy and strategic initiatives including developing and implementing a 30 year water resources plan. In 1996, Marsi organized a new Capital Improvements Program for the Water Department that involved hiring a team of city and consultant staff to provide planning, engineering, program management, finance and administrative functions for Phase 1 of the City’s $773 million water infrastructure program.

A city employee for 23 years, Marsi has worked in the water industry for 20 years.  She served as the project manager for the Strategic Plan for Water Supply and also served as the Program Manager for the City’s Water Conservation Program.

Currently, Marsi is serving as the Project Director for the Indirect Potable Reuse Reservoir Augmentation Demonstration Project. The project, which has an estimated total cost of approximately $12 million, will evaluate the feasibility of using advanced water treatment on recycled wastewater for augmentation of supplies in a local reservoir. Other projects Marsi currently oversees are the Water Facilities Master Plan, estimated at $1.25 million, and the Recycled Water Study, which will identify opportunities to increase recycling of wastewater for potable and non-potable uses. The Recycled Water study is estimated at $2 million. Additionally, Marsi is in charge of five major functions within the Long-Range Planning and Water Resources division, including the Water Reliability Program, Legislation, Policy and Resource Protection, and Water and Wastewater Master Planning. 

She is a member of the American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, and the Association of California Water Agencies. Marsi earned a B.A. from the University of California, Riverside, and an M.A. from American University in Washington, D. C. She has taught a Water Resources Planning class through the UCSD Extension Program.