Assessing Climate impacts on the Quantity and quality of WAter

WORKSHOP ON SCIENCE AND DATA GAPS IN EU CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER-RELATED PROJECTS

A workshop with the support of the European Commission and the Project Officer of the ACQWA Project, Dr. Philippe Quevauviller

Art Furrer Resort Hotel, Riederalp, Switzerland

January 12-15, 2011

Rationale for the meeting

After recent discussions with the European Commission, it became apparent that it would be useful to hold a workshop between the coordinators and perhaps a limited number of key scientists working within European FP6 and FP7 projects that are broadly related to water and climate. The aim of this meeting is to identify key strengths and weaknesses in the different projects, and see whether some of the weaknesses (methodologies, models, data) can be overcome through (i) collaborative action with other projects or through (ii) the suggestion of future call topics and the initiation of new projects. If this approach were to be successful, there would indeed be added value to all the projects that we collectively represent.

Please note that the “EU Water Science Gaps Workshop” will be a small meeting (and not a conference) and complementary to the “Policy Meeting” organized by the European Commission in June 2010. There will be space for no more than 40 EU-FP6 and FP7 project coordinators, key researchers in addition to a few invited international experts.

Workshop topics and schedule

The meeting will include "upstream" as well as "downstream" issues of water. The final list of workshop topics will be adapted based on the background and interests of participants, but should at least include: floods, droughts, water quality, adaptation in the water sector, integrated management of climate change impacts (incl. socio-economics); as well as multi-risk evaluation, prevention, and preparedness.

January 12, 2011 Arrival of participants, icebreaker

January 13, 2011 Keynote lectures, breakout session 1, socializing, breakout session 2

January 14, 2011 Keynote lectures, breakout session 3, socializing, breakout session 4

January 15, 2011 Reporting back from the breakout sessions, wrap-up, follow-up

Participants are expected to arrive at Riederalp in the afternoon of Wednesday, January 12, 2011 and will start the meeting with an early evening icebreaker. On Thursday and Friday mornings, we will have a limited number of keynotes on the topics listed above, followed by thematic breakout discussions in the late morning and late afternoon. From noon to late afternoon, there will be time for socializing on the ski or cross-country runs or on the sunny terrace of the conference hotel. On Saturday morning, breakout session leaders will report back to the plenum, we will wrap-up outcomes of the workshop and define strategies for the future (science, research directions, future calls, ...). The workshop will end on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at noon.

Registration and payment

Please register early, but no later than September 30, 2010 using the form below. Slots will be filled on a first come, first served basis. The cost of participation (lump sum) at the “EU Water Science Gaps Workshop” is 600 Euros and will include the registration fee, hotel accommodation, half board, coffee breaks and non-alcoholic beverages. The registration fee MUST be paid before November 15, 2010 to confirm your registration through bank transfer to the following account:

UBS SA, Genève

UBS 472.319.0

IBAN: CH150 02 40 240 472 319 00D

BIC: UBSWCHZH80A

Account S16714 "Interets/Divers"

IMPORTANT: Do not forget to add "Registration fee for [first name, family name]" under comments on your back transfer form.

The European Commission will make an effort to raise funds to reimburse coordinators of EU-FP6 and 7 projects that will be finished before January 2011.

Workshop registration form

Workshop Venue

Riederalp is a car-free resort in the UNESCO World Heritage "Aletsch Glacier" Region. The resort is at equal distance (roughly three hours by train) from Geneva-Cointrin, Zurich-Kloten and Milano-Malpensa airports. Please note that you will need to change trains in Brig and take the small mountain railway as far as Mörel, and then the cable-car to Riederalp. Information on times and connections is available on the Swiss Federal Railroad website. Simply type in your station of origin and “Riederalp” as your destination.

Riederalp is a small summer and winter village in the region of the largest glacier of the European Alps, the Aletsch Glacier. It lies on a south-facing slope with spectacular views to the high summits of the Valais Alps on the other side of the Rhone Valley. It is one of about 14 Swiss resorts that are free of all road traffic.

The village is located at 1,900 altitude, and end January should be good for skiing (despite global warming!), with ski runs reaching above 2,500 m. You can check out the webcams; there are several views in the village and on the slopes that you can select by scrolling down this page.

The 2009 General Assembly of ACQWA project has taken place in Courmayeur (Italy), Hotel Pavillon, September 28-30 2009.

Kick-off meeting of the EU-FP7 "ACQWA" Project Hotel Regina, Wengen, Switzerland, October 8-10, 2008.