Dr. Margaret Cook is a researcher at IdeaSmiths and a Research Associate at the Houston Advanced Research Center. She earned her Doctorate in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering with a certificate in Engineering Education in 2018. Her research interests include the water-energy-climate nexus and connections between science and policy. Dr. Cook’s previous research focused on the potential for mitigation of water stress in Texas through collaboration on water conservation or reuse technology improvements and the potential effects of drought and heat wave on thermoelectric power plants in Texas and the Midwest. She earned dual Masters degrees in Public Affairs and Environmental and Water Resources Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from UT Austin.