15 - 17 July, 2015
A Coruña, Spain
Organsied by:
Wessex Institute, UK
Overview
The Water and Society Conference is to be reconvened in 2015
following the success of the previous meetings, the first of which was
held in Las Vegas in 2011, followed by the meeting in 2013 in the New
Forest, UK, home to the Wessex Institute.
Over the centuries, civilisations have relied on the availability of
clean and inexpensive water. This can no longer be taken for granted as
the need for water continues to increase due to the pressure from an
increasing global population demanding higher living standards.
Agriculture and industry, major users of water, are at the same time
those that contribute to its contamination. Water distribution networks
in urban areas, as well as soiled water collection systems, present
serious problems in response to a growing population as well as the need
to maintain ageing infrastructures.
Many technologically feasible solutions, such as desalination or
pumping systems are energy demanding but, as energy costs rise, the
techniques currently developed may need to be re-assessed. The
Conference will address the interaction between water and energy
systems.
This meeting will encourage trans-disciplinary communication on
issues related to the nature of water, and its use and exploitation by
society. The conference is motivated by the need to bridge the gap
between the broad spectrum of socio-political sciences and humanistic
disciplines and specialists in physical sciences, biology, environmental
sciences and health, among others.
The socio-political implications of a world short of clean, easily
available water are enormous. Coupled with the increasing demands for
energy, it will lead to realignments in international politics and the
emergence of new centres of power in the world.
Policy makers need to be educated and advised on developing policies
and regulations that will support the water systems of tomorrow. The
role of society and its involvement with water is paramount. To meet the
future demands for water, new standards, new training and additional
support roles will best be delivered by those knowledgeable of the new
technologies and direction of the industry.
The intention of the Water and Society series of conferences is to review these issues, as well as the more technical aspects of water resources management and quality, to help the policy makers put forward policies and legislation that will lead to improved solutions for all.
Conference Topics
- Water resources management
- Water as a human right
- Water quality
- Water resources contamination
- Water, sanitation and health
- Water and disaster management
- Policy and legislation
- Future water demands
- Irrigation and desertification
Webpage
View the conference website, which has full details about the conference objectives, topics and submission requirements at: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/15-conferences/water-and-society-2015.html