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.
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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DarĂo 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
MIHIRI SONALIE BOGOLLAGAMA
Topic: Nutrient concentrations in surface and subterranean water sources in the Southern Region of Grenada
MELISSA CURTIS
Topic: Hydrological Modelling of Streamflow and Water Demand in Jamaica: case study from the Rio Cobre Basin using SWAT and WEAP models
MIQUEL GARCIA
Topic: Examining the seasonal extent of riverine plumes and the effect of intense flooding events in the Gulf of Paria
YOANY SANCHEZ CRUZ
Topic: Identification of risks in the water supply infrastructure, strategy to increase resilience
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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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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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)