news and events
international watershed management research symposium: march 26- 30, 2008
The purpose of this inaugural event co-hosted by University of Georgia's River Basin Center and the University of Costa Rica's Integrated Environmental Management Program (ProGAI-CICA) is to provide an opportunity for select personnel of both institutions to share their expertise in a specific scientific, methodological or programmatic sub-field of water resources management at the watershed level. The key focus of the presentations will be on exactly how each university works to provide tangible management tools to local communities, governments and institutions in order to address surface and groundwater resource issues. Further emphasis will be placed on how such mechanisms may be transferable between watersheds of varying characteristics and even between countries with different cultures and governmental structures. General themes include:
- Community-level education and monitoring programs;
- Democratic and participatory decision-making processes;
- Governance and community resource planning;
- Institutional communication and coordination;
- Development and accessibility of scientific tools and information;
- Local government capacity-building; and
- Addressing policy implementation challenges.
In order to provide synthesis of the presented information, a panel discussion will conclude the event's activities. This discussion will offer an opportunity for participants to provide feedback on the various issues presented and to analyze the potential for transfer and application of new management tools. Furthermore, what steps each of the universities can take to improve their tools, methods and, ultimately, their civic contributions will be examined. We will also discuss future opportunities and methods of collaboration between the two universities.
funding support
This program is supported in part by the President's Venture Fund through the generous gifts of the University of Georgia Partners. Other UGA funding sources that made this event possible include the Office of Public Service & Outreach and the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences. Additional funding was provided by the University of Costa Rica and the UCR Program for Integrated Environmental Management (ProGAI-CICA).
information
For further information about the event, please contact Justin Welch at University of Georgia Costa Rica ( justin.welch.cr@gmail.com ) or Laurie Fowler of the UGA River Basin Center ( lfowler@uga.edu ).
Event poster (PDF)
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