A major water research initiative between UK and India researchers launches today.
The new virtual India-UK Water Centre, is managed by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and aims to stimulate research collaboration to address water availability and sustainable water management issues in both countries.
The World Economic Forum identified water crises as the third highest global risk in terms of impact in 2016. In 2015, India topped a global list published by the Global Water Partnership and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of countries assessed in term of the number of people at risk of flooding and was third in an assessment of the population at risk of frequent water shortages.
Funded by the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and India Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for an anticipated three years, this virtual centre builds on recent and ongoing collaborative water research programmes between India and the UK, jointly funded by NERC and MoES including the Changing Water Cycle, Drivers of Variability in the South Asian Monsoon and the Newton Bhabha-funded Sustaining Water Resources for Food, Energy & Ecosystem Services in India.
The centre will provide a platform for joint hydrological research and greater dialogue, engagement and knowledge transfer between researchers, policymakers and business. The centre will fund and coordinate a diverse programme of workshops, exchange visits, as well as promote online collaboration through social media and the centre’s website, www.iukwc.org.
Water researchers and stakeholders are invited to register on the centre's website to join the new Open Network of India-UK Water Scientists. This will ensure they are kept up-to-date with activities, funding calls, joint stakeholder workshops and are able to help shape and participate in the centre’s activities.
For more information visit the India-UK Water Centre