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GWF2020

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PREDICTING AND ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE WATER FUTURES

Update on GWF2020

In light of the current COVID-19 situation across Canada and the world, the GWF Annual Open Science Meeting (GWF2020) scheduled for 11-13 May, 2020 in Waterloo unfortunately was not able to take place.

Instead, GWF2020 will be held this year in an alternative virtual format including a published compendium of abstracts, an online poster session, and an online policy panel discussion.

The virtual GWF2020 kicked off with an online National Water Policy Panel discussion event on May 13th. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here. 

Join us for the GWF2020 online Poster Session starting June 15th! 

To our entire GWF community, stay healthy and stay well.

About

GWF2020 has the following objectives:

  1. Highlight state-of-the-art GWF water research, catalyze synergies, and continue shaping Canada’s water future.
    At GWF2020, projects will share their advances and achievements in inter- and trans-disciplinary water research on the complex interactions between climate, hydrology, ecosystems and humans. Researchers will come together to explore synergies and collaborations across projects and disciplines, and to strengthen connections that address GWF’s priorities.
  2. Explore evidence-based options and solutions for responding to water challenges and risks in a changing climate.
    GWF2020 will assess the progress made towards developing adaptive water management policies and practices in Canada that respond to ongoing and emerging risks and challenges.
  3. Facilitate knowledge mobilization and dialogue across sectors and stakeholders by strengthening relationships between GWF researchers and end users.
    GWF2020 will be an interactive platform where GWF researchers and external stakeholders, including end users, partners, and decision-makers, translate research into practice and policy.
  4. Build bridges between different knowledge systems and advance research co-creation with Indigenous projects.
    GWF2020 will provide the opportunity to enhance relationships with Indigenous partners and end users, and to integrate Indigenous knowledge and co-creation practices in GWF research.
  5. Support career development of young water researchers.
    At GWF2020, the 500+ GWF Young Professionals (GWF-YP) will participate in networking activities and training sessions to enhance their skills and professional development.


GWF2020 will have the following outcomes:

  1. Increased awareness of the advances in water research that GWF enables.
  2. Increased synergies and linkages among GWF researchers and across projects.
  3. Increased recognition of evidence-based solutions and tools for managing water risks in Canada.
  4. Increased engagement with GWF stakeholders, partners and end users that supports translation of research into practice and policy.
  5. Increased inclusion of Indigenous partners and their knowledge systems into research co-creation.
  6. Increased skills and networking opportunities for GWF-YP.

Themes

The meeting's five themes provide the context for the overall program and encourage interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary dialogue and research co-creation. The themes are underpinned by cross-cutting challenges and opportunities that further emphasize solutions across sectors and stakeholders.

The meeting's themes are:

  1. Climate-driven changes of water environments in cold regions
    This theme will examine how climate change will shape future water security in cold regions. Addressing the projected changes in hydrology, biogeochemical cycles and ecological functions, this theme will explore the cascading impacts of climate change in cold environments and propose adaptive and integrated management solutions.
  2. From anthropogenic pressures to ecosystem services
    This theme will examine the complex interactions between human activities and ecosystem services. Addressing a range of interconnected issues related to anthropogenic disturbances of water environments, this theme will explore the impacts on the state and function of aquatic ecosystems, and the responses required to safeguard and restore the services they provide.
  3. Turning research into policy and management solutions
    This theme will explore options for translating water research, from the natural, social and health sciences, into concrete and relevant policy and management solutions. Addressing how to effectively respond to water risks and adapt in the face of uncertainty, this theme will examine how adopting new or improved practices and tools enhances evidence-based policy and decision-making.
  4. Innovations in water science and technology
    This theme will examine advances in water science and technology and the challenges facing knowledge mobilization and technology transfer. Addressing the increased need for and access to data-supported information and advanced analytics, this theme will explore innovations in the collection and use of environmental data and the potential to revolutionize decision-making for water management.  
  5. Knowledge co-creation with Indigenous communities
    This theme will examine the role of Indigenous co-led and co-produced research in shaping a shared water future. Addressing the need for inclusive solutions and policies that reflect different knowledge systems, this theme will explore co-created research, the co-learning of different knowledges, and the experience of different communities working together towards shared water management solutions.

The themes are supported by the following cross-cutting challenges and opportunities:

  1. Transferable knowledge and tools
  2. Predictive modelling and forecasting
  3. (Big) data science and management
  4. Social, economic and health determinants and impacts
  5. Stakeholder engagement and knowledge mobilization

Abstracts

We would like to thank everyone for their submission of an abstract for an oral or poster presentation – we received close to 350 abstracts this year! The abstracts were reviewed and authors have been notified of their acceptance and are invited to take part in a virtual poster session taking place in June, 2020.

The GWF2020 abstracts are now available as a Compendium of Abstracts sorted according to the meeting’s themes. 

Virtual Events

Online Poster Session

The GWF2020 online poster session begins June 15th! Visit the GWF2020 iPosterSession gallery to browse through our posters, read up on all the latest GWF research, and contact specific authors to learn more.

The online session complements the published Compendium of Abstracts, which offers the full catalogue of accepted abstracts for GWF 2020.

National Water Policy Panel Discussion

How can a Canada Water Agency Deliver Water Security for Canadians?

13 May, 2020

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EDT

Join us for a virtual panel discussion featuring Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Terry Duguid, MP on how a Canada Water Agency can deliver water security for Canadians. Chaired by Tom Axworthy of Massey College, you will hear from experts in water science and governance and guests from provincial, municipal and Indigenous perspectives, examining Canadian water issues and the science, policy, and the collaborative responses needed to tackle the emerging water-climate crisis. 

The national policy panel will kickstart the virtual GWF2020 open science meeting programming. 

If you missed the live event, you can watch a recording here. 

COVID-19 Updates

Update on 11 May, 2020:

In light of the current COVID-19 situation across Canada and the world, the GWF Annual Open Science Meeting (GWF2020) scheduled for 11-13 May, 2020 in Waterloo will unfortunately not take place.

Instead, GWF2020 will be held this year in an alternative virtual format including a published compendium of abstracts, an online poster session, and an online policy panel discussion.

Further updates can be found on this site and via the Global Water Futures newsletter and mailing list. 

 

Update on 30 March, 2020:

In light of the current COVID-19 situation across Canada and the world, the GWF Annual Open Science Meeting scheduled for 11-13 May, 2020 in Waterloo will unfortunately not take place. We are obviously disappointed not to be able to come together in person this year to share our science within and beyond the GWF community.

We would like to thank everyone who has submitted an abstract for an oral or poster presentation under the Call for Abstracts that closed on 10 March, 2020. We are currently exploring options to be able to offer a virtual poster session and to publish an online book of abstracts. All the abstracts that were submitted during the Call will be reviewed and you will receive a notification of acceptance.

We will continue to post further updates about GWF2020 on this site and to send announcements via the Global Water Futures newsletter and mailing list.

To our entire GWF community, stay healthy and stay well.

 

A message from the Director of Global Water Futures on 12 March, 2020:

We are aware of the potential impact of COVID-19 on our annual meeting, GWF 2020, in Waterloo from May 10 – 14, 2020. We are closely monitoring the situation, including the public health advice related to COVID-19 and that from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.

  • Currently, we are planning to run the meeting as scheduled.
  • For those looking to make travel plans, we advise that you seek travel guidance and advice from your university or institution.
  • For any travel bookings, we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with current travel policies and restrictions, as well as those from your institution. We strongly recommend the purchase of cancellation insurance for any travel booking.

In the case of any developments or updates, announcements will be posted here on the meeting’s website. Announcements will also be made via the Global Water Futures newsletter and mailing list.

Yours truly, 

John Pomeroy, GWF Director