During his years at CC, Scott Bryan ’01 spent his time leading ORC trips in the Collegiate Peaks and Canyonlands, firing kilns in the ceramics studio, and convincing leaders in business and sustainability to speak on campus.
“CC gave me the ability to see the big picture, yet still know when and how to drill down, says Bryan.
He even points to a specific CC trip, exploring the bowels of Glen Canyon Dam with Professor Mark Smith, as sparking his interest in re-thinking the way we use water in the face of climate change. And it was this interest in the intersection between business and sustainability that led Bryan to his current role as the CEO of Imagine H2O, a non-profit organization for entrepreneurs building transformative solutions for the future of water.
“Water is the medium through which people are experiencing climate change. And water security is a foundational element of creating resilient communities and economies,” says Bryan. “Ensuring access to safe, reliable, and affordable water sources will play a central role in transitioning to a resilient future.”
Imagine H2O’s water innovation programs provide startups with the resources, insight, and visibility to launch and scale water solutions. It envisions and builds programs with the world’s best water entrepreneurs. Through their startup accelerator, the organization has supported nearly 200 water solutions which have collectively reached over 1 billion people and raised more than $1 billion in early-stage investment.
“Water challenges and solutions are often very localized,” says Bryan. “There’s no silver bullet solution that can be consistently applied across geographies. Scaling solutions at an accelerated pace can be challenging – which is why Imagine H2O exists.”
Although the challenges in water are vast, Bryan still approaches his work with optimism for future possibilities. “Technology alone will not solve the issue, but innovation can force changes in management and governance,” he says. “Nor can we turn to yesterday’s water solutions. Climate change will force us to decentralize, decarbonize, digitalize, and democratize our water management systems. And, working with colleagues, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders who share our vision gives me energy and hope for our future.”
Bryan attributes his interest in the way we think about water to a very specific moment while at CC. “Exploring the bowels of Glen Canyon Dam with Prof Mark Smith,” he says. “We showed up with a signed letter from Floyd Dominy, the controversial Bureau of Reclamation commissioner credited with building the dam, who had spoken on campus just days prior to our trip. Mark dutifully showed the letter to the dam employees and the gates magically opened. After a brief safety talk, we entered the facility and descended into the dam’s deepest passages. The walls were vibrating with the sheer force of the entire Colorado passing through the dam’s turbines and I could feel the claustrophobia creeping throughout my body. I think back to that moment in time when the reservoir was at one of its highest storage levels and a signed napkin served as a pre-9/11 security clearance. It was experiences like this that sparked my interest in re-thinking the way we use water in the face of climate change.”
Bryan has a lot of big goals for Imagine H2O and his own professional future. And one of those goals is a return to the campus he called home for four years. “I’d love to get back to teach a Half Block on water innovation as I think the CC is the perfect place to cultivate a new generation of water leaders,” he says.