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University Principal visits Xiamen University
11 December 2012
University of Dundee Principal Professor Pete Downes visited Xiamen University on the 3rd December 2012 to progress Dundee University's relationship with Xiamen Univeristy.
Professor Patricia Wouters has a visiting appointment with the University under the Chinese government's Thousand Talents Programme.
Photo shows - Principal Pete Downes, President Zhu from Xiamen University, Professor Wouters and Professor Zhihong Huang from University of Dundee along with colleagues from Xiamen University.
Republic of Moldova and Ukraine sign Treaty on Dniester River Basin
11 December 2012
On 29 November 2012 the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Gheorge Salaru, and the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Mr. Eduard Stavytskyi, signed the bilateral Treaty on Cooperation on the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Dniester River Basin.
Dr Sergei Vinogradov of the Graduate School of Natural Resources Law, Policy and Management was involved with the drafting of the treaty as the Principal Legal Advisor.
The signing ceremony took place in the Italian Parliament during the Meeting of the Parties to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention).
The new Treaty identifies principles and provides a framework for cooperation on water pollution prevention and control, water flow regulation, conservation of biodiversity and protection of the Black Sea environment. It also addresses the monitoring of data exchange, public participation and cooperation in emergency situations.
Women, Water and Wells - a Gil Garcetti Exhibition
7 December 2012
In 2001 Gil Garcetti (pictured) travelled to West Africa for the first of what would be several visits to the continent. Captivated by the land and the people, he became deeply committed to raising awareness of, and funds for, safe water in the region.
Thus was born Women, Water and Wells, a selection of striking photographs. Garcetti's rich black-and-white photographs reveal the critical link between water and health in West Africa, as well as the dramatic economic and public health outcomes that can be achieved when safe water is delivered to communities. 
The Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science is honoured to announce that we will be exhibiting a selection of photos from the collection from 10th January 2013. The collection will be exhibited in the Dalhousie Building on campus at the University of Dundee for a period of 2 months. Gil himself will be providing a short presentation on the 10th January before the exhibition is officially opened. If you are interested in attending the opening event, please email Hugh Gunn for further details.
Women, Water and Wells is organised by the Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and made possible through the aid of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
All works have been lent by the photographer.
GWP-University of Dundee scholarships announced
15 November 2012
As capacity-building support to its Partner organisations, Global Water Partnership, together with the Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, will offer scholarships for 30 participants to undertake a module in International Water Law, in Dundee 10 -21 June 2013.
Centre for Water Law to host Chair in Water Resources, Sudan
12 November 2012
The IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law Policy and Science will be hosting a visit on 15th and 16th November from Professor Dr Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed, Director General, UNE
SCO-CWR, O.I.U., Khartoum, Sudan.
The UNESCO Chair in Water Resources-Sudan (UNESCO-CWR) was established in 1994 following the agreement signed by theUNESCO Director General and the Vice Chancellor of the Omdurman Islamic University on behalf of the Sudan Government. UNESCO-CWR serves the local, regional “the Nile Basin, Eastern and Central Africa, and Shared Aquifers”, as well as international water community. The meeting will allow for the discussion of potential joint research and teaching initiatives.
During his visit, Professor Ahmed will meet with the University Principal and Vice Principal, Water Law Centre staff and also enjoy a showround of the NERC Satellite Receiving Centre.
Professor Chris Spray invited to present at Scottish Government seminar
25 October 2012
Professor Chris Spray recently delivered a talk entitled ‘Local governance for ecosystem services’ at the ‘Thinking about the environment differently’ seminar as part of the Scottish Government’s Rethinking Wellbeing seminar series. The three part series is organised in collaboration with Scotland’s Futures Forum, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). This was the first seminar in the series and explored environmental decision-making, values and beliefs – what they mean and how they can be applied in practice to re-build a more sustainable economy and improve community wellbeing. The event was targeted at MSPs and their researchers.
Support for UN Water Treaty Accelerates
6 September 2012
Fifteen years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a framework convention for bodies of water shared by two or more countries. The UN Watercourses Convention, as it is called, lays out a set of principles that should be addressed when negotiating international water management agreements. Read more on the support for the Convention in the Circle of Blue article hereProfessor Geoffrey D. Gooch awarded a Carnegie Research Grant
14 August 2012
Professor Geoffrey D. Gooch, IHP-HELP Centre Director, has been awarded a Carnegie Research Grant by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. The grant will allow Professor Gooch to visit and work with colleagues at the Mekong Research Group, a research group of the University of Sydney, Australia. Previously known as the Australian Mekong Resource Centre, and still using AMRC as shorthand, it was established in 1997 and is located within the School of Geosciences. AMRC is a leading international centre of expertise on development, natural resource management and the environment in the Mekong Region. It is devoted to research, education and community engagement and to serve as a focal point for information, dialogue and activities in support of an equitable and sustainable development path for the region. Professor Gooch will visit the Centre in November 2012.
Professor Gooch is pictured on the Mekong River at Kratie, Cambodia.
'The next war will be fought over water'
10 August 2012
Scottish Water in collaboration with the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science present 'The next war will be fought over water' during the British Science Festival on 6th September 2012. Professor Chris Spray is joined by an illustrious panel of speakers from academia, government and industry to debate the fight over water. For further information and to register please visit the British Science Festival website.The Benefits of Global Water Instruments - Global to Local Perspectives
6 August 2012
Co-convened by the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science 'The Benefits of Global Water Instruments -Global to Local Perspectives' will take place in Stockholm on Sunday 26th August during World Water Week. Dr Alistair Rieu-Clarke will open the seminar and it will examine how global water instruments can benefit various stakeholders through a panel discussion and audience questions. Panelists, representing community, basin, regional and international perspectives, will consider questions such as the added value and role of global water instruments at different governance levels.
Further information can be found on the World Water Week website.
Should we care whether the UN Watercourses Convention enters into force?
6 August 2012
Following a number of activities organised through the UN Watercourses Convention Global Initiative the IHP-HELP Centre's Dr Alistair Rieu-Clarke and WWF's Flavia Loures debate if we should care whether the UN Watercourses Convention enters into force. Read their views in the International Water Law Project BlogDundee academics will contribute to Water Scotland Conference
26 July 2012
Professor Patricia Wouters and Dr Sarah Hendry will contribute at the Water Scotland Conference which will take place in Edinburgh on 3rd October 2012.
The inaugural Water Scotland Conference will bring together the key stakeholders to address the roadmap and barriers to creating a Hydro Nation. It will also explore specific water industry issues such as driving excellence in innovation, competition, operations, asset and catchment management. Finally, it will service as a platform for international information exchange and partnership development across the water industry.
Further information and registration details can be found in the Water Scotland Brochure
Dundee visits Xiamen University to enhance international collaboration
18 July 2012
Professor Patricia Wouters and Dr Sergei Vinogradov visit Xiamen University where they each delivered lectures at the Xiamen Academy of International Law. The summer programme at Xiamen attracts around 100 students of international law from around the world. This year the President of International Court of Justice, Judge Peter Tomka was among the speakers on the programme. The President of Xiamen University, Professor Zhu, Chongsi hosted a dinner in honour of Judge Tomka's visit to Xiamen.
Presdient Zhu was hosted in Dundee by Principal Pete Downes in June and the two universities are discussing how they will collaborate in the future.
Professor Wouters has been appointed under the Chinese Government 1000 Talents programme as a visiting professor at Xiamen Law School (one of China's leading internatinal law schools) where she will assist with developing a programme in international water law.
Pictured - Xiamen University President Zhu; President of the International Court of Justice - Judge Tomka; Professor Canelas (from Macau); the Dean of Xiamen Law School - Professor Xu; the Director of the International Law programme - Professor Zeng; the Academy summer programme director, Mr Cliff Manjiao, Professor Wouters and Dr Sergei Vinogradov
Onwards and Upwards!
27 June 2012
Professor Patricia Wouters, founding Director of the IHP-HELP Centre is pleased to announce that the Centre continues to grow and develop. Pat will hand over to Professor Geoffrey Gooch, her successor as the Centre's Director (from 1 July 2012). Following the successful renewal of Dundee's Category-II status, and with a view to focussing on her new appointment under the Chinese Government 1000 Talents programme at Xiamen Law School, Professor Wouters will continue in Dundee (where she will head up the China water law programme) with regular trips to China over the next 3 years. Her research will focus on international water law and policy (with a particular focus on China and Asia) where she works with Professor Huiping and colleagues at Xiamen to establish China's first graduate and research programme in international water law. Professor Wouters continues her support for the Scottish Government as it rolls out its new Hydro-Nation initiative. With best wishes to Geoff in his new role!Dr Rieu-Clarke delivers to UN Watercourses Convention 1997 Workshop in Vietnam
22 June 2012
On 15-16 May, 2012 in Do son, Hai Phong city, a “National Workshop and In-depth Training on the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational
Uses of International Watercourses 1997” was held by Vietnam National Mekong Committee in collaboration with Hatfield Consultants, World Wildlife Fund-WWF and Dundee University. At the workshop, national and international consultants including Dr Alistair Rieu-Clarke, delivered presentations on the International Law on Water and related topics, content of the UN Convention 1997 and its meaning in application to the International Watercourses.
In 2006, WWF generated an initiative to co-operate with those governments who wanted to become a member of the Convention to promote others in Mekong region to approve the Convention. Earlier, 1-3 May 2012, a regional workshop among 6 Mekong countries was held in a co-ordination of WWF, Hatfield Consultants and Dundee University.
The workshop participants were international consultants who were representatives for donors, leading experts on Water from Vietnam National Mekong Committee and related bodies, representatives from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, NGOs, etc.,
UK ratifies UN WC at Rio!
25 June 2012
At the Rio+20 meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the UK government announced that the UK will accede to the UN Watercourses Convention to help ensure that the world's 263 international boundary crossing rivers are protected and peacefully shared. The announcement, made by Clegg at Rio+20, means the UK will join the growing number of countries agreeing to accede to the convention. The UK's accession will bring the number of Parties to the Convention closer to the 35 required for the Convention to enter into legal force. When ratified the UN Watercourses Convention will help to protect rivers such as the Mekong which, with its tributaries, flows through six countries including China, Burma, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, supplying a large proportion of the world's freshwater fish catch.
Sir Alan Langlands visits UNESCO team during graduation week
25 June 2012
Sir Alan Langlands (now head of HEFCE
) dropped in for a chat with the UNESCO team last week during graduation week. We shared an update of our current activities,including the re
cent success of our UN WC international symposium and the strong participation on this year's 4th annual International Water Law workshop (which attracted some 40+ delegates from around the world). The Sir Alan Langlands Water Leaders prize was awarded to Brock Gill recognising his academic excellence on the LLM programme. Brock now works in Mongolia where he uses his water law expertise in a variety of settings.
The picture on the left shows Sir Alan with the UNESCO team while the picture on the right shows Professor Wouters presenting Brock with his prize.
PhD Research Scholarships Available
19 June 2012
Since its creation in 2008, the UNESCO IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science has offered a number of research scholarships to support candidates reading for the degree of PhD. The scholarships are available for three years (subject to performance) and will cover fees and provide a minimum stipend of £9,000 per annum (£750 per month) towards living expenses. Successful candidates will have access to all the resources of the PhD programme, including limited support for travel.
We currently have two opportunities for research funding. For further information please visit our PhD programme page
Xiamen delegation visit Dundee to discuss research collaborations
14 June 2012
Professor Zhu Chongshi, President of Xiamen University, headed the delegation that came to Dundee to explore the scope for developing a mutually beneficial relationship.
The representatives of Xiamen, one of the top international law schools in China, were welcomed to the city by Professor Pete Downes, Principal of the University, and other senior figures from Dundee on Saturday, June 9th.
A party of academics and postgraduate students have been in Dundee for the past two weeks for two prestigious international seminars hosted by the Dundee UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science. After being joined by the top-level delegation on Saturday, they were given a presentation and took part in meetings to identify possible areas of collaboration.
The link-up comes as a result of Professor Patricia Wouters, Director of the UNESCO Centre, joining the international water law programme at Xiamen as part of the Chinese Government's 'One-Thousand Talents' initiative - a programme aimed at enhancing China's research expertise.
Professor Wouters said, "I am delighted to have the chance to develop partnerships that will benefit both Dundee and Xiamen. As well as encouraging more Chinese subjects to come to Dundee, I'm looking forward to identifying and implementing exciting collaborative research projects which will help to strengthen UK-China relations."
Dundee UNESCO Centre hosts two major international events
13 June 2012
The UNWC International Symposium joined world-renowned experts and national government representatives and UN bodies and key stakeholders to discuss the relevance and role of the UN Watercourses Convention as it moves forward to entry into force. Co-convened with the WWF, the Dundee Centre, supported with funding by the Norwegian Government, hosted this international event, which featured the launch of the UNWC Users Guide.
The Centre, with the support of the Global Water Partnership through the Knowledge Chain Scholarship scheme, brought some 80 delegates to Dundee on the International Water Law workshop, the 3rd annual event hosted in Dundee. With some 30 GWP scholars and a host of students from around the globe, the Dundee water team of lawyers and scientists, supported by leading authorities in the field, provided a series of interactive lectures on the topic of international water law. The IWL workshop provides a one-week training programme and also the first week of teaching on a 3-week IWL module, that results in credits towards the LLM degree at Dundee.
Almost 200 people have come to Dundee to learn about and contribute to the discourse on international water law, policy and science. The two events benefited from a high-level delegation from Xiamen University, where Professor Wouters will take up a 3-year visiting professorship under the 1000 Talents Programme, with a view to establishing links between Dundee and Xiamen.
Dean in Paris to sign Memorandum of Understanding
7 June 2012
Both Centres have a common interest in integrated water resources management (IWRM), sustainable development, water policy and science, national and international partnerships and capacity building through technology, information sharing and training.
We look forward to working together with the ICIWarM!
The Dean is pictured signing the Memorandum of Understanding in Paris.
Professor Geoffrey Gooch leads field trip to north-east Vietnam
1 June 2012
Professor Geoffrey Gooch (CWLPS ) recently led a field trip to north-east Vietnam with Professor Chris Spray (CWLPS) and Dr. Marius Claassen from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa. Mr. Lan Vu Con from the National Institute for Agricultural Planning and projection (NIAPP) organized the visit, which included a trip to the Chinese-Vietnam border in Móng Cái. The field trip also involved visits to officials in Hái Ha, a district capital, and to enterprises in the area such as an ice production plant for cooling prawns fished in the coastal zones, and a tree plantation. During the visit local authorities described their need of increased knowledge and expertise from the CWLPS and the wider research community, and future cooperation around climate change predictions were discussed. The area is a remote coastal and mountainous zone where climate change is expected to impact significantly on livelihoods and development. At the end of the visit, Professor Gooch met NIAPP in Hanoi to discuss further dissemination activities resulting from the now completed EU funded LiveDiverse project.Making Scotland a Hydro Nation
29 May 2012
This one-day national conference will provide a platform for those in Scotland and beyond to come together to understand the potential presented by the Water Resources Bill and Hydro Nation strategy. The IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science's Professor Patricia Wouters and Dr Sarah Hendry will deliver presentations entitled 'The Global Water Crisis: an international legal perspective' and 'The Scottish model of water governance' respectively.
For more information and to register please click here
Professor Wouters attends Tigris-Euphrates meeting
14 May 2012
Professor Patricia Wouters attended the meeting organised by the Max-Planck Institute for Comparative Public and International Law (Director Professor Rudiger Wolfrum) and the University of Okan (Aysegul) in Istanbul on International Conference ‘Advancing Cooperation in the Euphrates Tigris Region: Institutional Development and Multidisciplinary Perspectives’ with invitees from the region, including Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Our own PhD graduate Yadgar Ahmad presented a very good work on Iraqi national water law (and interface with international law).
The programme was solid, with contributions on the difficult law/policy/science issues facing the region with respect to the Tigris-Euphrates. Professor Wouters was invited to comment on the comparative case studies given on transboundary waters with the focus on legal/governance frameworks.
She enjoyed the group meeting very much and came away from the meeting with new insights on the current and hard challenges facing the Tigris-Euphrates.
Researcher in the global governance of international watercourses
14 May 2012
Applications are invited for a new Research post within the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science (under the auspices of UNESCO), University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.
The researcher will be highly motivated and capable of conducting research as part of a project incollaboration with WWF and funded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway related to the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses. The aim of the project is to raise awareness and deepen knowledge and understanding ofthis global framework instrument for the governance of international watercourses.
The researcher will primarily be requested to assist UNESCO Centre staff in fulfilling a number of specific tasks under the project, namely (i) assist in the development of an online interactive guide to the Convention; (ii) conduct an analysis of theexisting and potential role of the global institutional architecture in supporting the implementation of the Convention; and (iii) support the editing of a special issue related to the Convention that will appear in a peer-review journal.
More details can be found here
UNESCO Future Forum - Global Water Futures
2 May 2012
The event was attended by some 250 delegates from across UNESCO and focused on the importance of water as part of the strategic forward planning for UNESCO. Professor Wouters delivered a talk entitled Facing Future Challenges - The integral role of international law advancing regional hydro-integration. Other presenters included the current and former directors of IHP and Olcay Unver, head of World Water Assessment Programme. The objective of the Forum in to enable leading experts to share their views with representatives of Member States of UNESCO, the Secretariat, decision makers, intellectual and scientific communities, civil society, media and general public so as to raise awareness about global water issues and to advocate for a coordinated global approach to managing and allocating water in the lead up to Rio+20.Dundee researchers to take part in poverty alleviation schemes around the world
1 May 2012
University of Dundee researchers are to play a key role in two major international projects seeking to improve the lives of more than one billion people living in poverty around the world.
Andrew Allan, of the University's UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, and Professor Terry Dawson, from the School of the Environment, are members of two international consortia carrying out research projects funded by the £40.5million Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme.
The ESPA aims to deliver an improved understanding of how ecosystem services - the benefits people obtain from the natural environment - can be better managed to reduce poverty.
The full story can be read here
Researcher Vacancy in Governance and Delta Ecosystem Services
2 May 2012
The University of Dundee is currently recruiting a researcher interested in working in a major inter-disciplinary research project. The project focuses primarily on the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta, but aims to produce results that are more broadly applicable to larger deltas.
Job details can be viewed here
Professor Patricia Wouters to participate in 'Advancing Cooperation in the Euphr
2 May 2012
Professor Patricia Wouters has been invited to participate in the international conference, 'Advancing Cooperation in the Euphrates Tigris Region: Institutional Development and Multidisciplinary Perspectives' taking place in Istanbul, Turkey between 2nd and 4th May 2012.
Organised jointly between the Max Plank Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Okan University and the Euphrates Tigris Initiative for Co-operation (ETIC), the objective of the conference is to gather outstanding scholars and practitioners to explore the prospects for cooperation in the Euphrates Tigris Region and to discuss all relevant water related issues. This will include topics such as inter alia, the riparian relations in the Euphrates and Tigris Region, institutional developments, comparative experiences from other river basins as well as a study of the water laws in Iraq, Syria and Turkey.
Our alumnus, Dr Kamal Ahmmad has also been invited to speak.
The programme for the conference can be viewed here
Dundee Team at the LAGOONS Consortium Meeting in Gdansk
2 May 2012
The University of Dundee Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science is playing a central role in the EU FP7 funded LAGOONS Project, which analyses environmental and socio-economic problems in four European coastal lagoons. The project uses a combination of river and lagoon modelling, identification of ecological indicators, socio-economic analysis and interdisciplinary, participatory scenarios.
The Dundee team, with Professor Geoffrey Gooch as PI, leads the work in the project on public and stakeholder participation, legal and institutional analysis, qualitative scenarios and policy recommendations. The team, which includes Professor Gooch, Dr. Sarah Hendry and Dr. Sue Baggett, recently attended the second consortium meeting in Gdansk, Poland on April 24-26 and took part in the scientific excursion around the Vistula Lagoon (see photo). The Vistula Lagoon, which borders the Baltic Sea, is transboundary and stretches over both Polish and Russian territory. The other Lagoon case areas are in Spain, Portugal and Ukraine. Besides the University of Dundee team, there are eight other scientific partners from Norway, Germany, Poland, Kaliningrad (Russia), Spain and Portugal in this 3-year project. The budget for the Dundee team is 589289 Euros.
Successes for staff and PhD Researchers
2 May 2012
We are pleased to announce a number of successes achieved by our team. Armelle Guignier's PhD defence went very well and she is now 'docteur en droit' with honours and the congratulations of the panel. Armelle said the defence lasted two and a half hours but went very fast indeed!
PhD researcher, Jing Lee has received a full scholarship, sponsored by the US National Science Foundation to attend the Water Diplomacy Workshop 2012. The Workshop is organised by Tufts University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Program on Negotiation. It will be held in Boston between 25th and 29th June, 2012. In addition, the Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), National University of Malaysia (UKM) has agreed to allocate funds to cover my travel.
Finally, we wish Bjørn-Oliver Magsig and Ruby Moynihan every success in their new careers. Ruby will take up a new position from the beginning of June, as a Legal expert in International, European and comparative water law’, at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – Department for Environmental and Planning Law. Bjørn-Oliver will take up a new position from mid-May as a Lawyer/Legal Expert in International Environmental Law at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – Department for Environmental and Planning Law.
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