Polski
As the challenges of climate change and its impact on the environment and societies intensify, it becomes important to focus on water resources and their protection. Therefore, the University of Silesia in Katowice, together with the Silesian Water Center and other co-organizers, invites you to a unique event on water issues. The International Scientific and Technical Conference: European Rivers – Problems and Challenges will be held tomorrow, March 22, 2024 Water Matters is pleased to include the event as a media patron. The conference will provide an opportunity to present the results of the latest research on European rivers. It will also provide a space for interdisciplinary discussions and exchange of experiences.
Conference responds to climate change challenges
European Rivers – problems and challenges is the first international conference organized by the Silesian Water Center of the University of Silesia in Katowice. The date of the event is not coincidentally coincidental with this year’s World Water Day celebrations. In keeping with this idea, the conference will cover a wide range of water topics. It is a response to the escalating challenges of global climate and socio-political changes as a consequence. Participants will include both male and female researchers from various scientific units from home and abroad, as well as representatives and representatives of the socio-economic environment. – Ph. Agnieszka Babczynska.
Objectives of the conference
The aim of the conference is to highlight the key problems of European rivers, to understand hydrogeological peculiarities, and to present the relationship between environmental problems and the socio-political situation in Europe and the world. The event was divided into three key sessions, each addressing different aspects of river challenges.
- Session 1
The first session, chaired by Prof. Chiara Manfrin, will be related to issues concerning the major rivers of Central and Eastern Europe. Participants will have the opportunity to hear about the challenges of monitoring and maintaining clean water in this part of Europe. Subsequent presentations will focus on the Oder and Vistula, analyzing the effects of an environmental disaster on the former and the risk of similar events on the latter. The session will conclude with Malgorzata Mysliwiec from the University of Silesia presenting a project on new challenges for European rivers.
- Session 2
The second session will focus on the impact of human activities on rivers. It will cover issues of anthropogenic causes of water quality changes. The presentation was prepared by a team from the University of Silesia in cooperation with the Institute of Environmental Protection – PIB. Next, the effects of mass fish die-offs caused by Prymnesium parvum will be discussed. Researchers from Jagiellonian University and the University of Szczecin will share their knowledge on the subject. The last presentation of the session will focus on the hydromorphological aspects of the regulation of the Oder River and their impact on the course of the 2022 environmental catastrophe.
- Session 3
The final session will link history with the present, showing how the past can influence current and future river management. The use of artificial intelligence to analyze historical maps of rivers and changes in land use in Upper Silesia will be an example of how digital tools can be used to protect and revitalize rivers.
The International Scientific and Technical Conference: European Rivers – Problems and Challenges is an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences
The conference is aimed at a wide audience: from academics to students to representatives of the business sector and NGOs. International cooperation will be highlighted by the presence of guests from Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas and the University of Trieste. The plan for the event includes plenary sessions, discussions and a student poster session, which will allow for multidimensional consideration of the topic. The planned meeting with high school students is also of particular value. This will raise environmental awareness among younger generations and inspire them to take action to protect water resources.
The conference will therefore be an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences, views and ideas, as well as to make new contacts in an international environment. The organizers place special emphasis on interdisciplinarity and openness to diverse perspectives to foster innovative solutions to contemporary problems.
Registration
Those interested in attending the conference are encouraged to register through the official event website. There you will also find a detailed session program and a list of speakers, which will give attendees a comprehensive insight into the topics covered and the discussions planned. The languages of the conference will be Polish and English, with simultaneous translation. The organizers expect the event to attract about 100 participants. The sessions will be live-streamed via the MS Teams platform, allowing those who cannot physically attend the University of Silesia to participate.
