DEADLINE: 18 JUNE 2026 IN-PERSON & ONLINE

Conference Topics

1. Adapting to Climate Change: Resilience in Water Landscapes

1.1. Climate Change and Its Implications for Water Landscapes

This section addresses the multi-layered impacts of climate change on ecosystems and sectors, including ocean acidification, climate-resilient agricultural practices, adaptation strategies for coastal communities, and shifts in precipitation patterns. It also covers the effects of heat waves and thermal pollution on water bodies, as well as the need for resilient infrastructure to tackle climate-induced water quality challenges.

 1.2. Ecosystem Resilience for Urban Biodiversity Challenges

This part focuses on microbial roles in aquatic systems, co-management approaches for ecosystem conservation, and innovative solutions for urban biodiversity challenges. It emphasizes the importance of ecological restoration techniques and the preservation of keystone species to maintain ecological balance.

1.3. Protecting Water Quality: Nature-based purification solutions

This area explores diverse aspects of water quality and pollution mitigation, including sources of microplastic pollution, nature-based purification solutions, and remote sensing for water quality monitoring. Community engagement in water protection and economic considerations for these measures are also discussed.

1.4. Resilient Infrastructure Solutions for Sustainable Communities

Focusing on infrastructure solutions, this topic covers floating structures for flood-prone areas, blue-green infrastructure, crisis-responsive planning, and floodplain restoration. It also examines the resilience of infrastructure in indigenous and local communities, addressing unique challenges and strategies for enhancing their well-being.


2. Protecting Biodiversity: Ecosystem Health in Water Landscapes

2.1. Biodiversity Conservation in Relation to Water Landscapes

This section addresses crucial strategies for conserving aquatic biodiversity, including corridor conservation for aquatic and terrestrial linkages, climate change impacts, conservation genetics for endangered species, and the design of nature-based solutions to protect endemic and threatened aquatic species.

2.2. Interdisciplinary Approaches for Sustainable Water Ecosystems and Health

This section discusses the integration of various disciplines related to sustainable water ecosystems, including environmental biology, green chemistry, and environmental engineering. It explores the interactions between organisms and their environments, as well as the implications for water-related health issues.

2.3. The Impact of Microplastics on Marine Ecosystems and Human Health

This topic can explore how microplastics enter water bodies, their effects on marine life, and the potential health risks they pose to humans through the food chain. You can discuss sources of microplastics, methods of detection, and possible solutions to mitigate their impact.

3. Innovative Approaches to Water Conservation and Management

3.1. Water Conservation Techniques in Landscapes and Agriculture

This topic covers essential water management principles and strategies for sustainable resource management. It highlights the integration of soil moisture sensors in precision agriculture, economic benefits of sensor-based irrigation, polyculture, crop rotation techniques, agroforestry practices, and the potential of genetic engineering in developing drought-tolerant crops.

3.2. Technological Innovations for Sustainable Water Resource Management

Discussing cutting-edge technologies, this section explores freshwater production from seawater, environmental impact assessments, blockchain technology for water quality monitoring, and robotic systems for efficient pipeline inspections. It also addresses the growing reliance on AI in water infrastructure and the associated cybersecurity challenges.

3.3. Water Security and Management

This section emphasizes critical aspects of water governance and management, including drought mitigation strategies, the impacts of climate change on water availability, and the importance of water demand forecasting. It also covers transboundary water management, institutional frameworks, allocation systems, and integrated water resources management, ensuring sustainable practices in watershed management and quality monitoring.

3.4. Sustainable Water Remediation

This section covers natural and nature-based solutions for water treatment, including constructed wetlands and phytoremediation. It discusses groundwater pollution prevention, water reuse, and direct potable reuse technologies, emphasizing safe and sustainable practices.


4. Evaluating Sustainability: Strategies and Innovations for Water Management

4.1. Techno-Economic Analysis and Sustainability Assessment

Focusing on the operational and capital costs associated with water splitting technologies, this section evaluates the levelized cost of hydrogen and conducts life cycle assessments to analyze environmental impacts. It considers sustainability metrics, including water and energy footprints, renewability, and greenhouse gas emissions.

4.2. Reviews, Important Strategies, and Technologies

This part provides a historical overview of water-splitting technologies, examining their significance, current trends, challenges, and potential advancements in the energy landscape.

4.3. Technology and Innovation Adoption

This part examines barriers to adopting new technologies in water management, focusing on financial challenges, business models, and public-private collaborations. It also discusses capacity-building programs and innovations in monitoring and decision-making.


5. Water in Urban Sustainable Landscapes: Characteristics and Functions

5.1. Water as a landscape feature and a design element

This topic emphasizes that water can serve as a central design element in architecture, creating focal points that enhance visual interest. Reflective surfaces, such as ponds or pools, can amplify light and offer dynamic interactions with surrounding structures.

5.2. Water Features and Aesthetics

Incorporating water features such as ponds and fountains adds aesthetic value to urban landscapes. These elements not only enhance visual appeal but also contribute to microclimate regulation, improving overall urban livability and comfort.

5.3. Microclimate Regulation: Water Integration with Natural Ecosystems

Incorporating water features in architectural design can help integrate buildings with their natural surroundings. This approach promotes biodiversity and creates habitats for various species, enriching the urban ecosystem. Water bodies can influence local microclimates by moderating temperatures and enhancing humidity levels.

5.4. Rainwater Harvesting and Re-use

Rainwater harvesting involves collecting and storing rainwater for reuse, reducing dependence on municipal water systems. This practice can mitigate flooding, enhance groundwater recharge, and provide a sustainable water source for irrigation and non-potable uses.

6. Nanotechnology in Water Resource Management: Innovations and Applications

6.1. Nanomaterials for Water Resource Management, Conservation, and Challenges

This topic explores the potential of nanotechnology in addressing water-related challenges, such as rainwater harvesting, greywater treatment, and mitigation of urban water pollution. It highlights innovative solutions for water scarcity and environmental concerns.

6.2. Nanomaterial Innovations for Sustainable Water Treatment and Conservation

This section presents sustainable water materials, including smart irrigation technologies and various purification methods. It discusses advanced membrane technologies, the role of carbon-based and metal-based nanomaterials in contaminant removal, and bio-inspired materials for water harvesting.

6.3. Nanomaterials in Water: Types, Compositions, Characteristics, Interactions, and Functions

This part explores the interactions of nanomaterials with water, covering their diverse applications in water treatment, biomedical devices, and the functionalization of nanoparticles for improved stability and effectiveness.

6.4. Applications of Water-Nanomaterials Interface in Various Sectors

This section highlights numerous applications of nanomaterials, including biosensors for water analysis, their use in agriculture and industry, and efficiency improvements in water quality monitoring. It showcases the broad potential of nanomaterials in addressing various water-related challenges.

6.5. Water – Nanomaterials Related Energy Storage Conversion and Commercialization Perspectives

This part discusses nanomaterial solutions for the water-energy nexus, including water splitting for hydrogen production and energy storage in water-based systems. It covers regulatory considerations and the challenges of scaling nanomaterial-based solutions.

6.6. Fundamentals of Water-Material and Nanomaterials Interface, Fabrication, and Applications

Offering a comprehensive overview, this section delves into the properties and interactions at the water-nanomaterials interface, including applications in catalysis, energy conversion, and water treatment technologies.


7. Energy Nexus: Innovations in Water Splitting Technologies

7.1. Fundamentals of Water Splitting

This section explores the principles and components of water splitting, examining thermodynamics, energy efficiency, voltage over potential, and factors influencing reaction kinetics. It also covers activation energy reactions and rate equations associated with electrolysis processes.

7.2. Water Splitting Technologies

This topic discusses various water electrolysis methods, such as alkaline electrolysis, proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC). It highlights the importance of electrode materials, catalyst optimization, cell design challenges, and advancements in photoelectrochemical water splitting.

7.3. Catalysts and Materials for Water Splitting

This part explores catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), covering synthesis, characterization, and performance. It discusses both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, as well as advanced materials designed to enhance electrode and membrane performance.

7.4. Industrial Water Splitting Systems and Applications

This section focuses on large-scale water electrolysis plants, examining industrial electrolyzer technologies, grid integration, and the utilization of renewable energy sources. It also investigates applications such as power-to-gas and power-to-liquid systems, including hydrogen generation and its industrial uses.

7.5. Water and Bio-energy Production

This topic explores the interrelationship between water and energy, particularly in agriculture. It discusses energy-efficient irrigation techniques, renewable energy applications in water treatment, and the potential for bioenergy production from water-intensive crops, alongside smart water distribution systems.

7.6. Water-Energy-Efficient Technology

This part discusses innovative water-energy systems, including capacitive deionization, energy recovery from wastewater treatment, and smart water management systems utilizing IoT applications for optimization.


8. Water as Innovative Materials in Industrial Processes: Chemical Properties and Applications

8.1. Chemical Properties of Water

This topic explores the multifaceted role of water as a chemical substance and its critical applications across various industries, emphasizing its importance in sustaining operations, enhancing processes, and supporting economic growth.

8.2. Water in Chemical Reactions

This part examines processes such as Hydrolysis and Condensation: The role of water in breaking down and synthesizing compounds, for example, Petrochemical Refining: Water used in separation processes and cooling; Wastewater Treatment: Chemical processes that rely on water to treat and recycle waste.

8.3. Water in Manufacturing Processes

This part discusses the utilization of water cooling and heating and depicts water's role in temperature regulation in various industrial processes, such as power generation and metalworking. It also discusses the importance of equipment sanitation in manufacturing settings to ensure product quality and safety and other usage in irrigation, supporting food production and supply chains.