The Arab region is among the most water-scarce in the world. Home to over 430 million people, it contains less than 1% of the world's renewable freshwater resources while facing rapid population growth, urbanisation, and the severe impacts of climate change. This disparity between supply and demand poses a fundamental threat to human health, economic development, social stability, and environmental sustainability.
Jordan, as the host nation, epitomises this challenge. It is the second-most water-scarce country globally, with water resources per capita falling well below the absolute water scarcity threshold. The strain on its water system is intensified by hosting one of the largest per capita refugee populations, a testament to the region's interconnected vulnerabilities.
This symposium, "Water Futures: Innovative Approaches to Water Management in the Region", is conceived as a platform to move from discussing the water crisis to implementing actionable, collaborative, and innovative solutions.
The main objective of the Symposium is to foster a collaborative and action-oriented dialogue among key stakeholders to develop a shared vision and practical pathways for achieving sustainable and resilient water security in the Arab region.
The symposium will be structured around key thematic pillars. Some of them are:
· Sustainable use of Aquifers
· Handling Water Contaminants
· Digital Water: Leveraging Data, AI, and IoT for a Smarter Water Future
· Mobilising Public and Private Investment for Water Infrastructure
· The Circular Water Economy
· Maximising Every Drop: Smart Water Networks, AI for Leak Detection, and Modern Irrigation
· Wastewater as a Resource: Expanding the Safe Reuse of Treated Water for Agriculture and Industry
· Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Integrated Planning for Sustainable Development
· Engaging Communities, Youth, and Media in Water Conservation Strategies
Publishing opportunity
Papers admitted to the event and presented at it may be submitted to the book "Water Futures: Towards Integrated and Sustainable Water Security in the Arab Region". This will be published by Springer Nature as part of the World Sustainability Series, the leading peer-reviewed book series on sustainability in a higher education context: https://www.springer.com/series/13384.
Each author will be given a complimentary PDF of their chapters and the book. The submission is not mandatory; it is only suggested.
Submission Guidelines
There are two possibilities for attending the symposium:
1. By only attending the symposium (without a presentation): please register via the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/JrLUS0gbTh
2. By delivering an oral presentation: Researchers may submit any complete, original, and unpublished research papers, either conceptual or empirical. To participate, participants need to submit an abstract of 200 to 300 words, along with the authors' names and full contact details via the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/rHRPtXSgHg
Deadlines
- Abstract submission 15 July 2026
- Registration deadline: 30 July 2026
- Full paper submission for the Book (after the symposium): 30th November 2026
Contact information
Enquiries regarding submissions of abstracts and registration should be sent to the Organising Team at FTZ-NK-Events@haw-hamburg.de
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