19.11.2024 – SDGnexus Network: Autumn Highlights
Gießen, November 19, 2024— The SDGnexus Network has had a dynamic autumn, marked by significant contributions to research, international collaborations, and the successful hosting of major events.
Water Security and Climate Change Conference 2024
The SDGnexus Network hosted the Water Security and Climate Change Conference 2024 (WSCC2024) from October 9–11 at Justus Liebig University Gießen. As the 8th edition of this international series—previously hosted in Thailand, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, Vietnam, and Ecuador—the conference welcomed over 120 researchers from 36 countries, spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
This year’s topic, "Water Management for Urban-Rural Resilience," explored three themes: (1) Integrated Urban-Rural Water Management, (2) Agriculture and Resource-Use Transformation along the Urban-Rural Continuum, and (3) From Data to Decision: Building a Sustainable Water Future. The conference was a platform for thought-provoking keynote speeches, interactive expert panels, engaging workshops, and oral and poster presentations, offering participants opportunities for networking and collaboration.
For more information, visit the conference webpage.
Research Paper: Identification of spatio-temporal patterns in extreme rainfall events in the Tropical Andes
Gabriela Urgilés, Rolando Célleri, Jörg Bendix, and Johanna Orellana-Alvear (University of Cuenca, Ecuador) published a study titled “Identification of Spatio-Temporal Patterns in Extreme Rainfall Events in the Tropical Andes” in Meteorological Applications. The research applied clustering techniques to uncover patterns in extreme rainfall, providing valuable insights for regional water management.
The full article is available here.
Review Paper: Methodological approaches on synergies and trade-offs within the 2030 Agenda
Dr. Aliya Assubayeva and Dr. Jorge Marco (University of Girona) co-authored a review in iScience on “Methodological Approaches to Synergies and Trade-Offs Within the 2030 Agenda.” The paper examines methods for analyzing SDG interlinkages, such as correlation analysis, network analysis, meta-analysis and literature reviews, expert-based assessments, and integrated assessment models, particularly in the water-energy-food nexus, and their applicability to policymaking.
The full article is available here.
Book Chapter: Water Management in Central Asia
Dr. Aliya Assubayeva with Prof. Dr. Jenniver Sehring (IHE Delft Institute) contributed a chapter on “Water Management” to the EU as an Actor in Central Asia (Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics). The chapter discusses EU strategies for promoting Integrated Water Resources Management, raising environmental awareness, and building capacities.
Read more about the book chapter here.
IAH World Groundwater Congress 2024 in Davos, Switzerland
At the IAH World Groundwater Congress in Davos, Switzerland (September 8–13, 2024), Dr. Aliya Assubayeva presented research on “Groundwater Governance in Central Asia” in collaboration with Ainur Kokimova (Graz University, Austria). The preliminary results were presented in the session 4.07. Approaches to sustainable groundwater management in a changing world.
More information about the conference is available here.
64th GEWISOLA Conference at Justus Liebig University Gießen, Germany
The 64th annual GEWISOLA Conference (September 25–27, 2024) at Justus Liebig University Gießen addressed “Innovative Concepts for a Sustainable Agricultural and Food Economy.” The SDGnexus Network’s Principal Investigators, including Prof. Dr. Martin Petrick and Prof. Dr. Ramona Teuber, were actively involved as organizers.
More information about the conference is available here.
10th Life in Kyrgyzstan Conferences in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
The 10th Life in Kyrgyzstan (LiK) Conference convened in Bishkek (October 9–11, 2024). Prof. Dr. Martin Petrick delivered a keynote on the Economics of Livestock in Central Asia, contributing to the discourse on socio-economic and environmental trends in the region. The University of Central Asia’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration (UCA-IPPA) and other partners convened the conference.
More information about the conference is available here.
School of Environment and Water for Women at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador
The SDGnexus Network, in collaboration with the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador, has organized the School of Environment and Water for Women on November 18 – 20, 2024. This initiative, led by Dr. Alicia Correa, aims to empower rural women by teaching geospatial technology applications for sustainable resource management, bridging the digital gender divide, and promoting women’s leadership.
Read more about the event here.
Participation at the Seminar on Mega Challenge of Climate Change: Preparing for New Realities in Central Asia at Harvard University, USA
Dr. Rahat Sabyrbekov (Visiting Professor, ZEU) delivered a seminar titled “Mega Challenge of Climate Change: Preparing for New Realities in Central Asia” at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies on November 19, 2024. His presentation examined the economic implications of carbon pricing in Central Asia and its sectoral impacts.
Read more about the seminar here.