Special Session on Science Diplomacy and Global Water Challenges
The DST-Centre for Policy Research at IISc Bangalore in association with the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangalore and Sustainable Water Future Programme is holding a special session on “Science Diplomacy and Global Water Challenges” on 26 Sept 2019. This special session is organized as part of the Water Future Conference 2019.
Session Details:
Title of the Session: Role of Science Diplomacy in Addressing Global Water Challenges
Date: 26 Sept 2019 (Thursday) | 16.30 to 19.30 IST | Hotel Sheraton – Grand Ball Room 2, Bengaluru, India
Science Diplomacy, as a practice, is gaining prominence around the world as part of the emerging multi-track diplomacy system. It functions at the intersection of ‘internationalization of science’, ‘science and technology as a foreign policy tool’ and ‘scientific evidence for global policy’. The relevance of non-state, non-diplomatic actors is constantly increasing in international engagement, particularly, towards addressing some of the pressing challenges that the world faces today. Globally, the water crisis has been raising alarm – prolonged droughts, fluctuating agriculture patterns and associated food and energy security challenges, cities running out of the water, issues related safety and accessibility of drinking-water and water-borne health problems, etc. Addressing these challenges require interventions at every possible level – ranging from appropriate policies, having access to necessary know-how, technology transfer and absorption capacity, and, community practices and interventions. In today’s interconnected world, with a tightly-knit value chain around the globe, water-related challenges inevitably require international engagements – global challenges require global solutions! This special session aims to discuss the role and importance of various stakeholders (diplomatic and non-diplomatic) in a comprehensive Science Diplomacy Framework in addressing global water challenges.
About the session:
The session
- Gathers experts and practitioners working at the crossroads of “international S&T engagement” and “addressing water challenges” at different levels – government/diplomatic, industry, academia and civil society.
- Aims to deliberate on the role(s) played by various stakeholder, and
- Facilitate a discussion towards building a holistic, sector-specific science diplomacy framework by creating strong inter-linkages among the stakeholders in different tracks.
Lead speakers include,
Amy Luers, Executive Director, Future Earth
András Szöllősi-Nagy, Chair, Water Future & Professor, Institute for Sustainable Development Studies
Anik Bhaduri, Director, Water Future & Professor, Australian Rivers Institute
C H Chandrasekhar, Senior Head – South & East, Wastewater BU, Larsen & Toubro
Gert Heijkoop, The Consul General of Netherlands in Bangalore
Jean-Christophe Mauduit, Lecturer in Science Diplomacy, University College London
Moderator: B. Chagun Basha, DST- Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Fellow, DST-CPR-IISc
