About the Symposium

Theme: Building Resilience in the Regional Water Sector to Address Climatological and Hydrological Risks and Threats

Water is intimately connected to the way of life in the Caribbean – reaching across

environment, economy, social well-being, systems of governance, rights and dignity. Many of the anticipated impacts of climate change, including unpredictable weather patterns and increases in the intensity of extreme climate events, have severe implications for the region’s water security and overall development. Increased incidences of droughts and hurricanes are already exacerbating water scarcity across the region, posing significant threats to human health and well-being and the productivity of key sectors such as tourism and agriculture.

Addressing existing issues confronting the regional water sector, such as challenges regarding the storage, treatment and distribution of available water resources, is therefore key to adapting the Caribbean to future climate changes and in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on Water and several other related SDGs. Water is also critical for successful climate change mitigation given its importance to energy security.

Caribbean Science Symposium on Water

“Bridging the Science-Policy Divide”

AGENDA

The Caribbean Science Symposium on Water will bring together representatives from the research, science, development, economic, legislative and policy communities, practitioners from water and related sectors, young professionals, university students and more, to share and discuss ideas on ongoing scientific studies, initiatives, innovations and best practices related to enhancing water secure developments and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Caribbean.

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The three-day virtual event will include:

An Opening and Closing Ceremony​

Two (2) Keynote Presentations

Scientific, Research, Technical and Exploratory Paper Sessions under the following themes:

- Water and Climate Change

- Resilience

- Public Health and Water Quality

Two (2) Moderated Sessions targeted at regional organisations, representatives from research, science, development, economic, legislative and policy communities, water and other sector specialists, government ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of water utilities, funding agencies and more:

- “Bridging the Science-Policy Divide”

- “Time to take a regional approach to Integrated
   Water Resources Management (IWRM)”

Roundtable Discussions on:

- Wastewater Management

- Youth and Water

Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Session

Plenary Discussions

Keynote SPEAKERS
& Presenters

Keynote Speaker on Day 1 (March 23rd, 2021):
 

PROFESSOR MICHAEL TAYLOR

Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology
The University of the West Indies (UWI)
Mona Campus

Keynote Speaker on Day 2 (March 24th, 2021):

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RIANNA GONZALES

Youth Engagement Specialist
Global Water Partnership (GWP)

Other Featured Speakers

Day 1 (March 23rd, 2021):
 

Senator the Honourable Simon Stiell

Minister for Climate Resilience and the Environment of Grenada

Day 2 (March 24th, 2021):

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Darío Soto-Abril

Global Water Partnership (GWP) Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Presenters

AKILAH STEWART

Topic: Water Poverty Index of three rural communities in the southern Caribbean

MIQUEL GARCIA

Topic: Examining the seasonal extent of riverine plumes and the effect of intense flooding events in the Gulf of Paria

MIHIRI SONALIE BOGOLLAGAMA

Topic: Nutrient concentrations in surface and subterranean water sources in the Southern Region of Grenada

YOANY SANCHEZ CRUZ

Topic: Identification of risks in the water supply infrastructure, strategy to increase resilience

MELISSA CURTIS

Topic: Hydrological Modelling of Streamflow and Water Demand in Jamaica: case study from the Rio Cobre Basin using SWAT and WEAP models

RAMGOPAUL ROOP

Topic: Integrated soil and water management on smallholder family-farms in building resilience to hydrometeorological hazards in Trinidad

MARSHA ALLEN

Topic: Use of environmental tracers (tritium3H and SF6) to improve knowledge of aquifer storage capacity, residence time and sustainability in the crystalline rock island aquifer of Tobago, West Indies

EVAN S. CAYETANO

Topic: Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in Caribbean Utilities

DONNA BLAKE

Topic: Caribbean Water Funds

FRANCESCA MARINO

Topic: Rapid Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in the Caribbean Water Sector

FRANCISCO NUÑEZ

Topic: Caribbean Water Funds

ADAM R. SNYDER

Topic: Wastewater Management in the Caribbean: An Opportunity Analysis

PEDRO MOREO

Topic: Building on the GEF CReW Project: GEF CReW+

KATHARINA SCHAAFF

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Representative – A co-executing agency of the GEF CReW+ Project.

YEKINI WALLEN-BRYAN

2019 Winner of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition

Look out for details on our other speakers and presenters soon.

Click above to see our Symposium Moderators and Facilitators

our symposium Partners

The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean is pleased to have the support of its Caribbean Science Symposium on Water Partners: Caribbean WaterNet (Cap-Net), The Faculty of Food and Agriculture of The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus, The Global Environment Facility-funded CReW+ Project and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Caribbean. Learn more about our Symposium Partners by clicking their logos below.

Resources

PERSPECTIVES PAPER – Status, Need and Role of Freshwater Storage in the Caribbean (March 2021)

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PERSPECTIVES PAPER – Impact of Land Use Change on Water Resources, Availability and Water Quality in Saint Lucia (March 2021) 

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PERSPECTIVES PAPER – Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for the Caribbean Water Sector (May 2020)

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GWP Valuing Water Stories from across the globe - A multimedia publication 

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The Symposium Magazine

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Download the Caribbean Science Symposium on Water Magazine and find all presenters' abstracts, learn more about the Symposium, find out more about GWP-C and some of its latest water-related knowledge products and more.

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Symposium Magazine with Visual Summaries  

Download the Symposium Magazine which includes 13 visual summaries of key aspects of the GWP-C Caribbean Science Symposium on Water. The graphics reflect significant insights and inputs from the Symposium’s opening ceremony, keynote speeches, paper sessions and presentations, feature addresses, roundtable discussions, moderated sessions, youth sessions and more. 

Saving Water: The Journey of Two Caribbean Kids to Understanding Water Security

Get now on Amazon – GWP-C’s first-ever kids book “Saving Water: The Journey of Two Caribbean Kids to Understanding Water Security.” This book takes the reader on an educational adventure through the beautiful and intriguing Caribbean. It follows the journey of a pair of twins and their parents as they navigate by yacht to 15 destinations to observe the main water security issues plaguing each territory and the possible solution. The aim of our little hero and heroine is to advocate for water security in the Caribbean by becoming Water Changemakers. 

(Kindle and Paperback Versions)

Symposium Presentations

Access presentations from the GWP-C Caribbean Science Symposium on water below. 

The Symposium in 13 Visuals

Access 13 images that provide a visual summary of key aspects of the GWP-C Caribbean Science Symposium on Water. The graphics reflect significant insights and inputs from the Symposium’s opening ceremony, keynote speeches, paper sessions and presentations, feature addresses, roundtable discussions, moderated sessions, youth sessions and more.