Most water conferences focus on panels and presentations — Catalyst flips that model on its head. Catalyst — hosted by Rogue Water Lab — is an immersive, hands-on experience where attendees don’t just listen; they engage, experiment, and step into real-world challenges in water communication.

Traditional training often falls short in preparing water professionals for the complex human dynamics of public engagement. Catalyst isn’t about theory — it’s about action. It equips leaders with the real-world skills to foster trust, handle misinformation, and strengthen relationships between utilities and their communities. This year’s content theme is navigating the modern media landscape. We’ll dive into media relations, social media engagement, mis- and disinformation, and how to rise above all the noise.

This year’s conference will take place in Milwaukee from Sept. 22 to 24. Application deadline is May 31.