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2008 Water Sciences Forum on Cutting-Edge Technologies for Water Services
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(Background) Panel Chair, Lt. Gen. Hank Hatch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Retired, Dr. Mark Shannon, WaterCAMPWS, University of Illinois, Dr. Jean Claude Bonzongo, University of Florida, and Dr. Garrick E. Louis, University of Virginia, address participants of the 2008 Water Sciences Forum, including (foreground)
Dr. Kathie Olsen, Deputy Director, NSF, Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director, NSF, and U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO Louise Oliver
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The June 27, 2008 Water Sciences Forum hosted at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., brought together more than 100 participants, including U.S. government water and water policy technical experts, academics, and representatives from UNESCO’s International Hydrological Program (IHP), the U.S. National Committee for the IHP, NGO's, and foreign embassies. The Forum’s purpose was to review water-related technologies and identify areas where U.S. expertise is applicable to the freshwater challenges facing African countries.
Dr. Arden Bement, Director of NSF, opened the Forum and noted that “Science and technology can be powerful vehicles for delivering hope to African nations struggling to supply clean, safe, and abundant water to their citizens.” Dr. Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, and Dr. Sharon Hays, Associate Director and Deputy Director for Science, Office of Science and Technology Policy gave welcoming remarks. Speakers emphasized the positive role that science and engineering can play in increasing freshwater supplies, especially through management and purification. Under Secretary Dobriansky underscored the U.S. commitment to providing assistance in this area through the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005. So far, over $3 billion has been committed by the U.S. under this act.
UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura’s opening remarks highlighted UNESCO’s commitment to assisting developing countries with water resource management for more than thirty years. He thanked the Forum organizers and noted that “With thousands of lives lost every day due to poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water, the question of how to mobilize cutting-edge technologies for water services in Africa is of utmost importance.”
Dr. Robert Hirsch of the United States Geological Survey gave the keynote address on “Science and Technology in Support of Water for the People in Africa,” followed by technical presentations by Dr. Juan Valdes, Deputy Director, NSF-sponsored Center for Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas, and Dr. Mark Shannon, Director of the NSF-sponsored Water Center for Advanced Materials for Purification with Systems.
To conclude, Dr. Nina Fedoroff, Science Advisor to Secretary of State Rice, and U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO Louise Oliver led an active and productive interactive discussion with representatives from African member states on how to adapt technology to local needs. Ambassador Oliver summarized UNESCO’s role in capacity building, noting the U.S commitment to solving water problems through the establishment of a new U.S.-based center (International Center for Integrated Water Resource Management), proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO structure.
The National Science Foundation, along with nine other U.S. government agencies, participated in this event. In addition to providing technical and practical information, the Water Sciences Forum focused on key water issues in preparation for the UNESCO-sponsored International Conference on “Water Scarcity, Global Changes, and Groundwater Management Responses” to be held on December 1-6, 2008, at the University of California at Irvine.
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The National Science Foundation, along with nine other U.S. government agencies, participated in this event.
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Links of interest
USGS Web Page on the 2008 Water Sciences Forum
Keynote address: Dr. Robert Hirsch, United States Geological Survey “Science and Technology in Support of Water for the People in Africa.”
Presentation: “Science and Engineering to Address Water Resource Management Issues in Arid and Semi-arid Regions,” Dr. Juan Valdes, Deputy Director, NSF Center for Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas
Presentation: “Science and Technology for Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation,” Dr. Mark Shannon, Director of the NSF Water Center for Advanced Materials for Purification with Systems
Agencies, Centers, and Programs Noted in the Text
The WaterCAMPWS - The Center of Advanced Materials for the Purification of Water with Systems
The U.S.-Based Center ICIWaRM, Proposed as a UNESCO Water Center
U.S. Geological Survey
National Science Foundation
UNESCO IHP International Hydrological Program
The U.S agencies that participated in this Forum:
Agency for International Development
Department of Agriculture
Army Corps of Engineers
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of the Interior, especially the U.S Geological Survey
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Science Foundation
Office of Science and Technology Policy
State Department
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Annual Meeting of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO
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Ambassador Louise Oliver and two members of the U.S. Mission to UNESCO in Paris attended the annual meeting of the US National Commission to UNESCO in Washington, D.C., held May 19-20, 2008.
The 100 U.S. National Commissioners began their meetings with a reception at Blair House, the President’s Guest House, co-hosted by the Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Dirk Kempthorne. The Meeting began the following day with presentations by James Warlick, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, Susanna Connaughton, Executive Director, U.S. National Commission for UNESCO and Ambassador Oliver, and included breakout sessions on specific topics relevant to UNESCO.
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U.S. Participation in UNESCO Youth@the Crossroads Meeting in Bahrain
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UNESCO co-organized a conference with the Kingdom of Bahrain entitled, “Youth@the Crossroads: A Future without Violent Radicalization.”
Over 100 specialists and young people from all of the world’s regions met in Manama, Bahrain, from June 15-17, 2008, to look at ways of dissuading youth from engaging in violent, radical behavior. The meeting showcased community-based projects and best practices that constructively engage youth and foster conditions that provide young people with positive options for their own future.
To read more, please click here
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United States Participation in UNESCO’s International Hydrological Program Intergovernmental Council Meeting
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The looming water crisis was the focus of the biennial International Hydrological Program (IHP) Intergovernmental Council (IGC) meeting, held at UNESCO headquarters from June 9-13, 2008.
Matt Larsen of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) headed the U.S. delegation, which included Verne Schneider, USGS, Bob Pietrowsky, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Gene Stakhiv, USACE, and Ross Corotis, U.S. National Commission to UNESCO. Among the approximately 200 participants were representatives of the 36 IGC Member States, as well as many other UNESCO Member States and non-governmental organizations. Matt Larsen was elected as the chair of the meeting’s drafting committee, which is influential in shaping the summaries of the major discussions and decisions.
To read more, please click here
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