Global Water Alliance 17th Annual Conference
The Global Water Alliance’s (GWA) annual 1-day conference will address the power of nature as a promising and cost-effective strategy to strengthen climate resilience while pursuing sustainable
development goals. What does “nature-based” mean when seeking access to safe water, high-quality sanitation, and opportunities to practice safe hygiene? Nature-based solutions are intended to benefit the ecosystem while mitigating climate impacts, improving water quality, access to freshwater, and quality of life. What once were strong water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) practices need to be reevaluated and updated so that the ecosystem is not an externality. This is a paradigm shift in the way we define these problems and develop solutions. Our conference will explore how to create inclusive policies, practices, and technologies. Leaders in the field will discuss access to safe water for nature and humans, as well as strategies for the integration of sanitation systems within their respective environments.
We welcome practitioners, educators, students, and organizations to attend this interdisciplinary conference. Continuing education credits can be earned and there will be opportunities to network and participate in discussions.
Our conference is conveniently scheduled the day before the annual Careers in the Water Industry organized by the Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania, making it easy to attend both events.
TENTATIVE PROGRAM (as of April 26, 2024)
Keynote Speaker: David Arscott, PhD, Executive Director and President of Stroud Water Research Center and President of the Society for Freshwater Science
Panel Sessions:
- Nature-based Solutions: Approaches and Case Studies
- Water catchment and storage systems: Nature-based designs
- Practitioners – What is being funded?
- Breakout Sessions; Student Poster Sessions
We are primarily a volunteer-run nonprofit. Our sponsors and donors help us continue in our mission to increase global access to clean water and sanitation through our Educational Initiatives and WaSH Field Projects. Conference sponsorships also increase the diversity of both speakers and participants, for example by subsidizing student registrations.
