"From New York to Montpellier, all mobilized for sustainable water" with Icireward

The Unesco Icireward international center, supported by the University of Montpellier, is organizing a day-long event on March 24, to coincide with the United Nations Water Conference to be held in New York from March 22 to 24, 2023. This unique awareness-raising day will take place in two parts: during the day, awareness-raising workshops for schoolchildren and college students from Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole and the region, and, at the end of the afternoon, a round-table discussion, free and open to all, on "Water resources: it's getting complicated".

Friday, March 24 program

School workshops at the Corum: Palais des congrès de Montpellier, from 9am to 12pm, then from 1pm to 4pm

In the morning and afternoon, the "From New York to Montpellier, all mobilized for sustainable water" event will focus on young people. Primary and secondary schools from Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole and the Occitanie region (Lozère) will be on hand at the Montpellier Corum. In all, over 500 pupils will be learning about the crucial importance of water resources for their future. To this end, the pupils will take part in a wide range of workshops, including photo exhibitions, models, a water fresco, and experimental and artistic workshops. Throughout the day, they can count on the presence of Frédéric Denhez (author, TV and radio columnist, popularist and presenter) to further arouse their curiosity.

A round-table discussion in the Urbain V amphitheatre of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The event will close with a round-table discussion on "Water resources: it's getting complicated". Last summer demonstrated the importance and vulnerability of water resources. What are the issues and major challenges ahead? What are the constraints and levers for action? An eclectic panel of scientists, elected representatives, managers and users will address issues relating to water resources, their evolution, accessibility, quality and the need to share them. Particular emphasis will be placed on the need to regenerate dialogue between all players in the field in order to meet the major challenges ahead, but also to address existing avenues for improvement and innovation. This round table will be moderated by Frédéric Denhez, author, TV and radio columnist, populariser and presenter.

List of speakers: Céline Michelon, winegrower at Mas de Bayle - Éric Servat, Director of the UNESCO Icireward International Center - Florence Vaysse, Météo France regional coordinator for Languedoc and Roussillon - Gabrielle Halpern, Doctor of Philosophy - Grégory Vallée, Director of the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole water authority - Jean-François Blanchet, Managing Director of BRL Groupe.

The Unesco ICIREWARD international center at a glance

The Centre International UNESCO Icireward (International center for interdisciplinary research on water systems dynamics) is the first and only UNESCO research and training center dedicated to continental water in France. Located in Montpellier, it is one of the most important centers of its kind in the world. Icireward brings together and strengthens the collaboration of nearly 400 scientists and 150 PhD students in 17 research laboratories. The center's scientific community thus forms a rich multidisciplinary and international network to improve understanding of water-related issues. Research focuses on hydrological, chemical and biological sciences, as well as social sciences, to provide comprehensive expertise on the challenges of water resources: availability, quality, sharing and extreme phenomena (floods, droughts). Icireward works all year round with schoolchildren, students and the general public.