OWOW! Donor gives $1 million to Metro State to start One World, One Water (OWOW) Center

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An anonymous donor has given $1 million to Metropolitan State College of Denver to launch a water education program with the best name ever: the OWOW Center, which is short for the One World, One Water Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship. Starting in fall 2012, Metro will offer a minor in water studies -- a huge issue in the dry, dry West.

According to Metro, course topics will include hydrology, water law, history, economics, politics, conflict resolution and negotiation. (Perhaps Aaron Million, the Fort Collins entrepreneur whose idea to build a 550-mile pipeline to pump water from Wyoming to Colorado has seen its fair share of conflict, could benefit from a class or two.) The center will also host water stewardship activities on campus and off.

"When we researched the potential for this program, we found that there wasn't much being done at the undergraduate level to incorporate a variety of disciplines in water education," says Sandra Haynes, dean of Metro State's School of Professional Studies in a statement. "Through the interdisciplinary model, our graduates have the potential to make lasting impacts on water issues in our communities across the state."

It's a lofty and respectable goal. However, we believe Metro also deserves props for the proposed center's nickname. The way we see it, the acronym can be pronounced two ways: "Oh! Wow!" or "Ow-Ow!" Both are equally awesome. TTYL!

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