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August 2007 Newsletter
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| IWC eBulletin |
August, 2007 |
Welcome to the August 2007 edition of the IWC eBulletin.
In this Issue
- Message from the CEO
- 10th International Riversymposium
- Monash University Launches the IWC Masters
- Oxford Scholar talks H20 at UQ
- IWC Researchers travel to Honiara
- Stockholm Hosts World Water Week Conference
- IWC Participates in a Pathways to Development Workshop
- Partner News: Griffith to Establish a Queensland Branch of a Nation-wide Project
- Partner News: UQ Brewing a Sustainable Energy Solution
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Message from the CEO
Welcome to International WaterCentre’s quarterly newsletter. We’re entering the latter half of the year and many innovative and exciting things are taking place at the Centre.
Firstly, I must congratulate IWC Chairman Paul Greenfield on his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of The University of Queensland from January 2008. Paul’s dedication will serve him well in this position, and as a leading water specialist, his knowledge and experience will benefit both UQ and the sector generally.
Monash University launched the IWC Masters program in June, and on a personal note I would like to commend Monash University’s involvement with the program, particularly the contribution from staff members Bruce Missingham and Kwame Mfwodo, who are instrumental in the course development.
In this edition we’ll also bring you the latest IWC news from home and abroad including the World Water Week conference in Stockholm and the upcoming International Riversymposium.
Mark Pascoe
CEO
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Gathering Next Week: the 10th International Riversymposium
3rd - 6th September 2007
IWC and partners are preparing for the biggest annual water event in Brisbane, the International Riversymposium. Riversymposium is an integral part of Brisbane's annual broad-based cultural event, Riverfestival; a celebration of the Brisbane River and its contribution to our culture and way of life.
International Riversymposium is the leading forum for sharing experience, expertise and knowledge on the world’s river systems. This year specialists will come from around the world to discuss the increasingly pressing issue of Environmental Flows.
The symposium presents a holistic view of river management and provides an opportunity to celebrate the ecological and social value of rivers. The four-day event will showcase the world's best practice, and highlight links between science, business, institutions and communities involved in river management.
The Environmental Flows conference will run alongside the International Riversymposium, providing an opportunity for delegates to 'mix and match' sessions that will best suit them. It will feature presentations on innovative practices and case studies from throughout the world that offer a wide range of perspectives on the topic of managing river flows for people and ecosystem health.
Decision-makers, scientific experts, economists, lawyers, policy makers and community leaders across the world from the International Riverfoundation, The Nature Conservancy, International Water Management Institute, The World Conservation Union, International Rivers Network, UNESCO, Australian Federal Government, WWF International, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Healthy Waterways will deliver key addresses.
To register for Riversymposium click here: http://www.riversymposium.com/index.php?page=Registration .
Photo courtesy of Chris Stacey UQ
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Monash University Launches the IWC Masters
IWC CEO Mark Pascoe and Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Edwina Cornish were present to launch the IWC Masters Degree of Integrated Water Management at Monash University on 27th June 2007.
Edwina Cornish recognised the course as developing an innovative approach that will challenge existing models of postgraduate education. The course will adopt an integrated approach tailored toward addressing the great challenges water-related problems pose for society, and will ensure water professionals from around the world look to Australia for training in water resource management.
The course aims to improve the capacity and build the skill sets of water professionals and future leaders in water resource management. Developed in response to the water crisis, this course is geared toward addressing water-related issues in both Australia and abroad.
Enrolments are now open for the IWC Masters Course which will commence on 1st September 2008. The IWC has received world-wide interest from as far afield as France, Iraq and Samoa. Coursework materials and case studies have been developed from a diverse range of locations including the Murray-Darling Basin, the Mekong, and the Brisbane River.
For prospective students in developing countries, there is still time to apply for Australian Development Scholarships. For more information and application forms, visit: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/studyin
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Oxford Scholar Talks H20 at UQ
Dr Caroline Sullivan, Distinguished Research Fellow from the Oxford University Centre for the Environment, was the key speaker at the Water, Poverty and Ethics of Development Seminar, hosted by UQ and promoted jointly by the IWC and the Engineers Without Borders UQ Chapter on 18th July 2007.
The seminar was well attended and provoked rigorous discussion on a wide range of issues relating to the ethical dimensions of development, how development may contribute to poverty, and the role of water within this context.
Many pertinent issues were raised by Dr Sullivan, who questioned how decisions are made in regard to the allocation of water for the environment and people, and what ethics underpin this type of decision making. Dr Sullivan pointed out that children continue to suffer from lack of access to adequate water supply, with one child dying every 18 seconds. Whilst technical solutions to deal with this are known, the problem persists.
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IWC Researchers Travel to Honiara
During May this year a team of IWC researchers, including Dr Terry Chan, Dr Suzanne Hoverman and Bronwyn Powell, travelled to the Solomon Islands to undertake research into the challenges of delivering water to Honiara, the Pacific nation’s capital. Working with local counterparts from the Division of Water Resources, the Solomon Islands Water Authority, NGOs and community members, the research undertook a risk assessment of the Kongulai catchment.
Taking perspectives on values, threats and risks to water in the catchment from the range of stakeholders affected, the research team will be analysing results to assist with management of the catchment. The research was undertaken by the IWC team as part of the AusAID funded Australian Water Research Facility.
The IWC team are currently analysing their research data and plan to present findings to stakeholders in early October.
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Stockholm Hosts World Water Week Conference
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Some 2,500 experts from around the world convened in Stockholm on Monday 13th August for the World Water Week international conference to discuss issues such as global warming and the provision of water for biofuels.
Now in its 17th year, the annual World Water Week conference’s theme was “Progress and Prospects on Water: Striving for Sustainability in a Changing World”.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt opened the international water conference and called for governments, individuals and all sectors of society to cooperate in the face of climate change.
Conference participants spent the week attending seminars and workshops held by government and business representatives, water experts, non-governmental organisations and UN officials.
Among the themes discussed at the conference were investments by banks and corporations in the water sector and water management cooperation between neighbouring states.
In the lead up to the Year of Sanitation in 2008, International Water Association launched its Sanitation 21 Draft Framework and Asian Development Bank presented its Water Financing Program with a strong focus on partnerships for improving sanitation.
Photo courtesy of Cecilia Österberg, Exray FotoSIWI
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IWC Participates in a Pathways to Development Workshop
The recent Pathways to Development workshop, run by Engineers Without Borders (EWB), was a gathering of forty enthusiastic student and professional engineers, planners and social scientists all united by a common concern in development issues. IWC was involved in sharing experiences through the trade show and a presentation by Bronwyn Powell on her Solomon Islands experiences.
The workshop was held at the Griffith University EcoCentre on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd July 2007.
The aim of the “Pathways” weekend was to facilitate interrelationships between EWB chapters and encourage education in community development through group exercises, discussion panels and scenario-based learning. To learn more about EWB or become a member click here: http://www.ewb.org.au/main/.
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Partner News: Griffith to Establish a Queensland Branch of a Nation-wide Project
Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute (ARI) is working to establish a Queensland research hub for the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) program, a massive study spanning Australian states and territories across the top-end.
TRaCK aims to build understanding of the importance of tropical rivers and estuaries to develop tools for assessing the implications of proposed developments.
Researchers will work with local governments, regional resource management bodies, indigenous communities, agriculture, fishing, tourism and mining industries and land owners to conduct field work and build knowledge about tropical river ecosystems and processes.
ARI Director Stuart Bunn says the Queensland hub would enable much greater focus on the Queensland component of the study, specifically rivers that flow into the Gulf of Carpentaria.
TRaCK investment now tops $30 million over four years, with significant Queensland Government Smart State funding and federal funding from the Department of Environment and Water, the National Water Commission and Land and Water Australia.
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Partner News: UQ Brewing a Sustainable Energy Solution
A joint project between UQ and Foster’s to turn beer wastewater into electricity has won $140,000 from the Queensland Government’s Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund.
The team from UQ’s Advanced Wastewater Management Centre (AWMC) was presented with the funding by Minister for Environment, Lindy Nelson-Carr, at Foster’s Yatala brewery in May 2007.
AWMC postdoctoral research fellow Dr Korneel Rabaey says the technology works by creating a microbial fuel cell, which feeds continuously from the organics in the brewery wastewater, turning it into watts. The process also produces clean water and renewable (non-polluting) carbon dioxide.
Dr Rabaey says with the current drought the smart use of natural resources has never been more important, and we must learn how to diversify our portfolio of fuels and reduce our energy and water use.
A patent is pending for the technology, which is believed to be a world first and is designed for small to medium operations and could be used across a number of food, beverage and manufacturing industries.
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IWC Contacts
For more information contact:
International WaterCentre
Phone +61 7 3221 1772
Fax +61 7 3221 1727
Email admin@watercentre.org
PO Box 15056, City East, Brisbane
Queensland 4002, Australia
www.watercentre.org
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