KINDRA Final Conference
February 27, 2018 – Académie Royale de Belgique
Groundwater and hydrogeology-related research activities cover a wide spectrum of research areas at EU and national levels. However, groundwater issues are quite often either ignored or considered only in insufficient detail and separated from the associated surface water bodies, despite of its critical importance as renewable, high-quality, naturally protected (but still vulnerable) resource that has significant impacts on both surface water bodies and ecosystems. The KINDRA project (Grant Agreement No. 642047, www.kindraproject.eu) created a critical mass for scientific knowledge exchange of hydrogeology research, to ensure wide applicability of research results, including support for innovation and development. The overall objective of the project is to take stock of our current knowledge of hydrogeology through an inventory of research results, activities, projects and programmes at national and international scale.
The final conference is aimed to communicate the results achieved by the project, from the new classification system, to the inventory of hydrogeological products (EIGR) and its content of more than 2000 metadata, to be used for evaluating the state-of-the-art of European research&knowledge on groundwater. Results of inserted data have been critically analyzed, to identify modern challenges, trends and gaps in groundwater science and practice. Obtained results need to be discussed with institutions, associations, stakeholders and decision makers, with the aim to identify a road map for developing policies, strategies, and management options at European level, able to highlight and correctly evaluate the importance of groundwater for both human requirements and environmental needs, in the framework of the circular economy, the water-food-energy nexus, the zero-waste goal, the sustainable development goals and the optimization of natural resources.
- Académie Royale de Belgique: Salle Prigogine
- Address: Rue Ducale 1 Bruxelles,1000 Belgium
Draft Programme:
SECTION 1: OPENING SESSION
Chairperson: Isabel Fernandez – European Federation of Geologists (EFG)
9:00-9:10 – Welcome EFG
9:10-9:40 – Towards a mission-oriented research and innovation policy in the EU – contribution of knowledge and science: Johan Stierna, European Commission, DG Research and Innovation, Policy Development and coordination, Unit A6 (tbc)
9:40-10:05 – The EU Groundwater Directive: Elisa Vargas, European Commission, DG Environment, Chair of EC Working Group Groundwater, Common Implementation Strategy of WFD
10:05-10:30 – Coffee break
SECTION 2: KINDRA OUTCOMES
Chairperson: Carlos Martínez Navarrete – Geological Survey of Spain (IGME)
10:30-10:50 – KINDRA project: aims, expectations and final results: Marco Petitta, Project Coordinator – University of Rome Sapienza
10:50-11:10 – KINDRA Classification: Klaus Hinsby – Geological Survey of Denmark and GreenLand (GEUS)
11:10-11:30 – KINDRA Inventory: Clint Garcia Alibrand – Environmental and Water Agency of Andalusia (REDIAM)
11:30-11:50 – KINDRA Gaps analysis: Peter van der Keur – Geological Survey of Denmark and GreenLand (GEUS)
11:50-12:10 – Discussion Q&A
12:10-13:10 – Lunch break
SECTION 3: KINDRA INVENTORY POTENTIAL USERS
Chairperson: Heidi Barlebo – Geological Survey of Denmark and GreenLand (GEUS)
13:10-13:30 – Tom Diez – De Watergroep, Brussels
13:30-13:50 – Rob Ward, Water Resources Expert, Eurogeosurveys and Director of Groundwater Science, British Geological Survey
13:50-14:10 – Johannes Grath, Chair of EC Working Group Groundwater, Common Implementation Strategy of WFD, Umweltbundesamt
14:10-14:30 – Youssef Filali-Meknassi, UNESCO-IHP, Paris, Water Information Network System (WINS)
14:30-14.50 – Teodora Szocs, Vice President of International Association of Hydrogeologists; Mining and Geological Survey of Hungary
14:50-15.20 – Coffee break
SECTION 4: FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
Chairperson: Alecos Demetriades – IUGS Commission on Global Geochemical Baselines
15:20-15:40 – GeoERA information platform: Yvonne Schavemaker, coordinator – TNO Geological Survey of the Netherlands & Klaus Hinsby – Geological Survey of Denmark and GreenLand (GEUS)
15:40-16:00 – ICT4Water cluster: Lydia S. Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia, Exeter University
16:00-16:20 – NAIAD – nature-based solutions and green/blue infrastructure: Morten Ejsing Jørgensen – City of Copenhagen
16:20-16:40 – IGRAC, Global Groundwater Information System (GGIS): Arnaud Sterckx – IGRAC, UNESCO
16:40-17:00 – Subsol & the case of Rotterdam: Koen Zuurbier – KWR Watercycle Research Institute
PANEL DISCUSSION: KINDRA JOINT PANEL OF EXPERTS
17:00-17:40 – Debate
CLOSING SECTION
Chairperson: Gesche Grützmacher, Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Berlin
17:40-18:00 – Groundwater – Reconciling science and policy?: Philippe Quevauviller, Policy and Research Programming Officer at European Commission, DG HOME
The participation to this event is free of charge.
Please register filling in the following form:
There is a special group rate for the Kindra Final Conference attendees in the Renaissance Brussels Hotel (Rue du Parnasse 19, 1050 Bruxelles). The hotel is 10 minutes walking from the venue where the conference will take place.
