1st International Conference on Water Security

Water Security is emerging as a primary sustainability challenge across the globe in the 21st century. It is a determinant for security in various societal and environmental aspects including food, energy, economy, environment and public health, and thus has a complex,  political momentum that goes far beyond the traditional water sector. 

The 1st International Conference on Water Security, organized by Elsevier and co-chaired by Philippe Van Cappellen of the University of Waterloo and Upmanu Lall of Columbia University, will welcome academics, thinkers and practitioners from around the world to present, discuss and highlight key issues and directions for change from scientific and policy perspectives. The conference also complements the launch of Elsevier's new journal on Water Security. 

Themes and topics:

• How do water governance, institutions, aging infrastructure and finance come together to achieve water security in the developed world?
• The science of integrated water management (smart watersheds, water services, agricultural, energy, minerals and other use systems, environmental flows, legacies, collaborative governance, BMPs)
• Climate, renewable energy, economic development and demographic change and migration: challenges or opportunities for regional water security. Water security and conflict (either transboundary water cooperation or armed conflict and water)
• Urban water security
• Technological innovation and big data for water security: emerging directions and prospects
• Indigenous and hybrid knowledge systems, common-pool resource systems, and perspectives in water security
• Sustainable development, ecosystems and human health as water security objectives
• Water and health