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WELCOME |
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Welcome to 29th Congress of International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research
Hosted by Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society
Organized by China Inst of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, and Tsinghua University
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Recent events in US make this a difficult period for the world |
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Many of you here today wondered if it was right to travel and engage in "normal" activity in this period of grieving for civilized discourse
Some have asked if the Congress would be cancelled, as many international events have been
Many of our colleagues who had expected to join us are not even able to do so
Please join me in a few moments of silence for civilian victims of terrorism and strife not only last week in the US, but throughout the world
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What can we do to help heal the situation? |
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As water engineers and scientists, we are builders of civilization, not destroyers
In our own relations with colleagues and peers, and especially with those we might not agree with, we must practice the qualities of civilized discourse and respect that we wish to see expressed in global relations among citizens of the world
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Closing of welcome |
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In this 29th IAHR Congress, even as we grieve for victims and our society, let us strive to combat a belief in the power of terrorism by affirming what is good and positive and constructive among civilized peoples throughout the world
I wish you a technically productive and socially enjoyable week here in Beijing, and I declare the 29th IAHR Congress to be open.
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29TH IAHR CONGRESS |
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Demographics:
China 337; Japan 98; USA 40; Italy 37; Germany 26; UK 24;
Netherlands 23; Iran 20; Korea 17; Canada 14;Switzerland 13;
Austria 12; Russia, Portugal, Spain 11;
Two invited general addresses
Five technical themes, each with keynote speaker
JFK Student paper competition
Poster sessions
Technical workshops
Memorial Symposium: Pioneers of Modern Hydraulic Engineering in
Asia (Thursday)
LOC organized UNESCO support to enable attendance of 40
participants
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THIRD WORLD WATER FORUM |
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World Water Council hosted First and Second World Water Forums, Marrakech and the Hague
Gathering of global water interests
Third forum to be held in Kyoto, Japan, March 2003, 8500 expected
IAHR a strong supporter of this initiative
Hideaki Oda, Sec General of WWF3, a Congress keynote speaker, Thursday
Please visit WWF3 stand for more information
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BUSY TWO YEARS FOR IAHR |
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IAHR SECRETARIAT RELOCATION |
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CM Delft Hydraulics generously hosted IAHR since its founding in 1935
In 1996 CM CEDEX offered to host IAHR as we move into the new century
Relocation achieved last month
Appreciate patience of all during period of relocation and training of new staff
Thanks to WL Delft and CEDEX
Thanks to staff in Delft, especially Marjorie Keuning and Cheryl van der Zee with whom many of you have had direct contact
Please sign commemorative books for each at IAHR stand
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JHR EDITOR |
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Prof. Marcelo Garcia, UIUC, begins term as new JHR Editor in October
Thanks to Rodney White, who is retiring from HR Wallingford for his dedicated five-year term of service; JHR a top quality journal under his leadership
Prof. Garcia unable to fly to Beijing; also Ippen Awardee
Ippen lecture slot on Friday to be used for IAHR Member Forum
Includes presentation of Prof. Garcia's plans for changes in Journal editorial management
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NEW IAHR COUNCIL ELECTION PROCEDURE |
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No need to fear you'll be named to nominating committee during Congress!
After Graz, Council developed new election procedure for trial
More democratic, less burdensome to Congress participants, still respects our constitutional boundary conditions
My predecessor President Helmut Kobus appointed to chair NC in Iowa City July 2000
NC worked very hard during past year
Nominees published in Newsletter
Large number of ballots already received
Final ballot deadline Wednesday end of day
If you've not voted, pick up ballot at IAHR stand or Secretariat
Submit ballot in SIGNED envelope to Secretariat
In this first trial, we learned of a few things needing adjustment
Overall a positive change that is less complicated than it looks
Friday's GMA will include announcement of election results, and formal adoption of the consequent constitutional changes to Council composition.
New Council takes office in October
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CORPORATE MEMBER TASK FORCE |
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Council working to actualize addition of "engineering" to our name
IAHR historically and presently primarily an Association of researchers - this identity will not change - but we must offer value to members whose activity is primarily in applications
Council member Gaele Rodenhuis organized Corporate Member Task Force, and Symposium on Managing Change in Research Institutes
Invited Symposium, held in parallel with 29th Congress
Council looking forward to facilitating further activities bringing together practitioners and researchers
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STUDENT CHAPTERS |
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Rapidly developing new area of IAHR affiliate membership, idea began in Graz
U. Stuttgart; U. Illinois; U. Naples; U. Idaho; U. Iowa; Cal State U.; U. North Carolina; U. Minnesota
100 members at Stuttgart!
Friday's IAHR Member Forum will include presentation on activities of U. Stuttgart student chapter. Please attend
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AFFILIATIONS WITH OTHER WATER ORGANIZATIONS |
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Council seeking ways to enlarge the connections, influence, impact of member activities
Closer links with other organizations offers promising opportunities to do this
EWRI agreement in effect, joint instrumentation sections conference in Colorado, '02, Journal info exchange
COPRI agreement imminent, joint conferences on waves, tsunamis
IWRA Investigative Task Force launched
IAHS may offer opportunities for combined efforts
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IS HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING A DINOSAUR? |
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It's been said that the 21st Century is the Century of Water
Developed countries: water quality, allocation of water for irrigation, flood control, river restoration, wetlands restoration, fish passage, etc
Developing countries: water supply, flood control, land reclamation, wetlands restoration, hydropower development, navigation, etc.
Council met Friday with Mr. Wang Sucheng, Minister of Water Resources, China
His excellency gave us a marvelous overview of water resource development in China
The classic view is that it is the uneven distribution, not quantity, of water that is the challenge
In China, it is the distribution AND the quantity that pose enormous challenges
China is tackling this head on, and hydraulic engineers are leading the charge.
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WHY IAHR? |
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IAHR is NOT a research institution
IAHR is NOT a source of research funding
IAHR has ONE professional employee
But IAHR has 2500 volunteer members who benefit from exchanges and contacts with colleagues from around the world, facing a broad array of water challenges and opportunities
"Them" is "Us"
We can all learn from each other
Task of IAHR Secretariat and Council is to facilitate and empower the efforts of volunteers sharing a common love of water science and engineering
If you are not already a member of the family, please consider joining - applications at the IAHR stand
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CLOSING OF ADDRESS |
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Thanks to LOC for what looks to be a highly rewarding and well-organized Congress
Thanks to IAHR members for their patience during relocation of Secretariat and support of this fine association in a period of rapid change and opportunities |
