Binational Waters course

The Binational Waters course is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the complex challenges of managing water in transboundary river and aquifer basins.

With a special focus on U.S.–Mexico shared waters, this course equips participants with the tools to understand both the technical and political dimensions of binational water management.

Participants will explore water issues in transboundary river basins through legal and theoretical principles, including the foundations of international water law and water-sharing frameworks.

Beyond the legal and institutional context, the course introduces innovative approaches to understanding binational waters, using creative metaphors and real-world examples that reframe shared water as an opportunity for cooperation rather than conflict.

By analyzing the U.S.–Mexico border region—home to shared rivers and aquifers like the Rio Grande/Río Bravo and the Colorado River—the course highlights successful models and persistent challenges in binational cooperation.

It also challenges traditional paradigms by emphasizing the potential of water to act as a diplomatic bridge between nations.

Designed for students, environmental professionals, and policy advocates, the course encourages a new way of thinking: one that sees shared watercourses as dynamic spaces for building trust, sustainability, and long-term collaboration.

With an asynchronous format, the Binational Waters course allows learners to engage at their own pace while connecting to a growing network of individuals committed to the future of water governance.

Whether you’re beginning your journey or looking to deepen your expertise, this course offers a rich foundation in the principles and practices shaping binational water cooperation today.