Over 200 water experts from around the world will gather at the University of Dundee next week (6-8 August) for a major international seminar to discuss the difficult issues surrounding water management. This is the 5th annual water conference convened in Dundee.
Lawyers, economists, hydrologists, engineers, social and political scientists are among those who will be attending from some 40 countries including China, Japan, USA, Australia , Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
The three day conference, "Globalisation and Water Management. The Changing Value of Water" is being organised by the University's International Water Law Research Institute and the American Water Resources Association at the West Park Centre. It will be co-chaired by director of the University Institute, Dr Patricia Wouters and Dr David Moody of the Inter-American Water Resources Network.
Among the key speakers are
John Grounds III president of the American Water Resources Association
Dr Jon Hargreaves, chief executive of East of Scotland Water Professor
Michael Hamlin, former Principal and Vice Chancellor University of
Dundee. There will also be special plenary sessions on Privatisation and
the United Nations new HELP (Hydrology for the Environment, Life and
Policy).
The delegates will address issues such as formulating water policy during rapid globalisation, water management strategies in developing countries and environmental problems. The programme is a continuation of the Dundee International Water Law Research Institute initiative to develop an interdisciplinary approach to water resources management, including water law. The University of Dundee offers the only postgraduate degree in International and Comparative Water Law and Policy.
On Monday evening they will be welcomed to the city by the Lord Provost at a civic reception at Dundee City Chambers.
Dr Wouters: "We're delighted, together with the American Water Resources Association, to welcome so many water specialists from such far flung parts of the world back to Dundee for this annual conference. Some of the most exciting and beneficial work in this field is taking place at the interfaces of disciplines such as hydrology, science, engineering and law but rarely do they all come together at the same meeting. One of the goals is to bring these vital specialities together to bear fruit."
Dr Wouters team this week announced a grant of £1/3 million to help states evaluate their legal entitlements and obligations to water that crosses boundaries by developing a legal assessment model. /ends
Contact Dr Pat Wouters 01382 34 4456, or department office 01382 34 4764 p.k.wouters@dundee.ac.uk