World Water Day 2022: Groundwater – Making the invisible visible

To mark UN World Water Day, the University of Birmingham is hosting the 2022 World Water Day Symposium. This hybrid event (on our Dubai and Edgbaston campuses) is held under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair in Water Sciences and UNESCO UNITWIN network on Ecohydrological Interfaces at Birmingham and the University's Institute of Global Innovation. 

The World Water Day theme for this year is: Groundwater – Making the invisible visible. Although often regarded as out of sight, groundwater is an integral part of the water cycle and a vital water resource that must be managed sustainably.

Join the experts leading water-related research from across the world, and those leading projects to help make water issues more visible. This annual symposium brings together a broad range of water professionals from a wide range of academic, policy, regulatory, industry, intergovernmental backgrounds and the wider public to discuss the critical water challenges we face. 

We are hosting a series of presentation and panel discussions (as listed below). 

Schedule

10:00 - 10:40am GMT; 2:00 - 2:40 Dubai

Speakers

• Professor Stefan Krause, University of Birmingham - Making the invisible visible: The global threat of microplastic water pollution
• Dr Chris Bradley, University of Birmingham - Water and Health: a time for new solutions?

10:40 - 11:30am GMT; 2:40 - 3:30 Dubai

Panel discussion – hosted by Dr Rasha Bayoumi with guests from regional higher education institutions and other strategic partners/stakeholders 

11:30 - 12:00 GMT; 3:30 - 4:00 Dubai

Break with opportunity to view China Institute Li Siguang Lecture delivered by:

• Prof Yan Zheng, Chair Professor, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology – Enhancing groundwater sustainability 

12:00 - 1:20pm GMT; 4:00 - 5:20 Dubai

Speakers 

• Professor Andreas Hartmann, Institute of Groundwater Management, Technical University of Dresden - Fast flow into aquifers and its consequences for groundwater quality.

• Dr. Doris E Wendt, Research Associate at the University of Bristol & Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham - Managing the (in)visible resource: groundwater.

• Dr Laura Richards, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Research Fellow (Academic), The University of Manchester

• Dr. Adam S. Ward, Assistant Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, USA.

1:20 - 1:50pm GMT; 5:20 - 5:50 Dubai

Panel discussion – hosted by Dr Kieran Khamis and Professor Iseult Lynch with Edgbaston speakers – How do we make water and sustainability issues more visible? 

1:50 - 2:00pm GMT; 5:50 - 6:00 Dubai

Closing remarks from Dubai and Birmingham hosts 

Conveners from University of Birmingham

• Professor Iseult Lynch, Edgbaston host, University of Birmingham
• Dr Kieran Khamis, Edgbaston host, University of Birmingham
• Dr Rasha Bayoumi, Dubai host, University of Birmingham
• Professor David M. Hannah, UNESCO Chair in Water Sciences and UNESCO UNITWIN in Ecohydrological Interfaces
• Professor Stefan Krause, Water Theme Leader Institute of Global Innovation and UNESCO UNITWIN in Ecohydrological Interfaces 

We hope to share live broadcasts from Water Week at Expo2020 in Dubai. Expo2020 materials will be shared with all delegates after the event.