The Role Scientific Community Can Play for Water Security

As the demand for fresh water grows with increasing population, so will the demand for new creative methods to assess the availability of water resources.

Generally, in scientific research, a problem is identified, experimental techniques are designed, results compiled and interpreted to find a solution to the problem. Then results are published and disseminated for others to advance the science and understanding of the earth, its environment, and the processes involved. In conferences while sessions explore many aspects of the science & technology, data, analysis, etc., and the approaches by which the scientific community can more effectively advice to the policy makers and decision makers at large. But, merely explaining the facts of science is not enough to inspire the public to change their mindset, mental attitude and behavior so that they can avoid impending social and environmental problems.

On the other hand, in the “real” world, politicians, policy-makers, decision-makers, and the governing agencies, media, etc., have a tendency to be popular and persuasive to compete for economic aspirations. Since, these communities have very different goals, means, and measures of success, and contrasting and often conflicting operational languages; the public, including all the stakeholders remain mostly ignorant and unaware of the exact nature of the problems and issues. The scientific community can play significant role to educate and help these communities to create awareness and achieve their goals. In this context, each member can reorient discussion in terms that the common man can understand. Only then the potentials of science be put to use for the benefit of society.

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7 Answers

1. I read with interest the sincere views expressed by Prof. Kees Van Leeuwan, Prof. Abderrahman, and Yang Villa. I thank and appreciate them for active participation.

   Thanks to Prof. Leeuwan for sending the links.

   My apologies to friends for the delay in response. I shall appreciate active participation of other colleagues as well in this thread of discussion for benefits of the humanity.

2. Here is the link to the review: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-016-9760-4

   Here is the link to the interview (pages 62-67): http://www.eip-water.eu/sites/default/files/The%20Source%20Iss%202%20Low%20Res.pdf

    

3. Dear colleagues, this is the link to our review FYI: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-016-9760-4 specifically written for politicians.

4. Thanks for initiating this discussion. I really appreciate it. Sometimes you need to be tough to politicians (see interview in Source- search for van Leeuwen), sometimes you need to educate them (see broad review just published), and in the end they appreciate that too: http://www.linkedin.com/pulse/city-blueprints-3rd-eip-water-conference-leeuwarden-kees-van-leeuwen?trk=prof-post.

5. I have noticed that the key board does not respond in typing the word in the text with the same letters which I type on the key board . Several spelling mistakes appeared in my previous comment.
   

   Professor WALID ABDERRAHMAN

6. 
   

   The Role That Scientific Community can play for Water Security

   Reply by Professor WALID ABDERRAHMAN

   king Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran , Saudi Arabia

   The scientific community has important role in water security by leading the scientific and technical efforts for development of feasible solution for different types of water challenges world wide. But, there are other major players for achieving water security specifically decision makers including politicians in addition to the public . The success of water security depends on the degree of minimizing the barriers between the three players. Further, most countries have been exerting increasing efforts to improve the access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and to achieve sustainable water and food security. These efforts have taken new momentum since the beginning of the 21st century to meet the New Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The achievement of water security goals requir special knowledge, expertise and special governance structure. It requires sound policies includingeffective management and special governance structure. Many countries have adopted different levels of integrated water management (IWRM) and governance frameworks. Hence, holistic approaches are still needed to adopt more effective IWRM schemes and advanced governance frameworks, which include effective stakeholder participation, broader public-private partnership, cost effective and more transparent decision making processes, and more integration with agricultural policies and energy production, under climate change to achieve sustainable water, food and energy security, and to protect the environment. Regional and international efforts coupled with more financial and technical resources are needed for lower income countries to help in achieving MDGs. Acheuving MDGs by 2030 is a serious and vital challenge, and should be dealt with as top agenda priority for each country to avoid possible collapse of socio-economic developments especially in low income countries.

7. I absolutely agree with this observation, and encourage more scientists and science communicators to engage the wider public in meaningful discourse.