Water scarcity is an acute challenge for arid and semi-arid regions, and it impacts all aspects of sustainable development. As the driest state on the driest inhabited continent, South Australia has developed knowledge and capabilities in many aspects of water management and sustainability and is well placed to contribute to efforts in other parts of the world and in turn to draw on advances that are being made elsewhere.

The Water Resources Management and Sustainability: Solutions for Arid Regions Conference, hosted by United Arab Emirates University and the Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020, will provide a platform for knowledge-sharing, promote new solutions and develop stronger international cooperation on water issues in arid environments. The conference will share knowledge, experience and solutions for addressing current and future water resources availability.

Led by the National Energy and Water Centre at United Arab Emirates University, the Goyder Institute and the South Australian Department for Environment and Water, the conference will bring together key water research institutions, universities, government organisations and business from around the globe.

The conference will explore challenges and solutions related to water resources exploration, development, management and sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. This can contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, each of which are underpinned by water and its quality and availability.

Director of the Goyder Institute for Water Research, Dr Kane Aldridge, said that the conference provides a timely and important opportunity for Australian expertise, particularly from South Australia, to play a role on the global stage and to learn from international collaborators.

“A great deal of capacity has been built up over decades in South Australia and nationally across the government, research and industry sectors in relation to the sustainable use of water resources,” Kane said. “As we emerge from a global pandemic, this forum is a chance for forging new international partnerships.”

“We are currently developing the content for the presentation streams, workshops, keynotes and parallel activities, and are seeking input from interested individuals and organisations.”

Covering both technical and policy-focused topics, the two-day conference program will comprise plenary presentations, oral presentations and poster sessions showcasing recent innovations and research findings across the following themes:

• Socio-Economic Water Studies - Governance, Pricing, Policy, and Regulation
• Advanced Technologies in Water Resources Management - Large Scale Water Management, Managed Aquifer Recharge, Hydroinformatics
• Climate Change and Water Resources Resilience - Risk management, Water Conservation, Provisioning
• Non-Conventional Water Resources Development and Management - Desalination, Water Recycling, Water Reuse
• Water Resources Sustainability - Sustainable Development Goals, Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Social and Economic Growth, and Environmental Sustainability in Arid Regions
• Water Resources and Hydrological Processes - Rainwater Harvesting, Flash Flood Prediction and Management
• Karst and Coastal Zone Management and Water Resources
• Water Quality Management
• Spatial Technology, Geographic Information Systems, and Remote Sensing in Water Resources

Key dates and information:

• Abstracts submission: 1 December 2021
• Notice of acceptance of abstracts: 15 December 2021
• Early bird registration: 31 December 2021
• Final conference agenda: 10 February 2022
• Registration closes: 23 March 2022
• Conference dates: 22-24 March 2022
• A full registration to the conference will support a maximum of 2 abstracts/full-length papers
• Interactive workshops and technology showcase included in program

Further details on the event can be found on the conference website at https://conferences.uaeu.ac.ae/expo2020_wms, where you can also register your interest and submit topics and abstracts.

For further information please contact Institute Director, Dr Kane Aldridge.

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