The Young Water Professionals (YWPs) of the Watermicro 2025 team
Introduction
- This side-event is designed to tackle pressing water quality challenges related to health risks by designing different approaches through collaboration and innovative thinking.
- The purpose of this event is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and harness the collective knowledge of both the audience with diverse backgrounds and the panel of water quality experts (including YWP) to tackle one of the most pressing water quality issues—health risks in recreational waterways. Experts from diverse fields will come together to engage with a complex, real-world water quality scenario, working towards practical solutions. The scenario of this side-event focuses on the health risks of swimming in recreational open water like the iconic Amsterdam canals.
- This event is relevant for the target audience as it fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and encourages innovative thinking on a critical issue that affects both high-income and low-middle-income countries.
Objectives
- Develop practical and actionable solutions: Encourage participants to brainstorm and propose actionable strategies accounting for the different stakeholders to reduce health risks, such as improving water monitoring systems, implementing better sanitation, or creating public health advisories.
- Enhance knowledge exchange: Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences between participants and expert panelists, particularly around best practices and emerging trends in water quality management.
- Strengthen networks: Build and strengthen professional relationships among participants, fostering long-term collaborations across sectors and regions.
- Inspire new approaches: Encourage innovative thinking by exposing participants to different approaches and perspectives on water quality, potentially influencing their future work or research.
Methodology
- Before the event starts, attendees of the side-event will choose a colored sticker of which each color represents a specific topic recommended to be discussed related to the scenario. Participants can actively select the topics that interests them. This not only completes grouping (3-4 groups), but also ensures that everyone can actively participate in the discussion.
- At the start of the event, an expert will give a presentation about the background and related research (health risks in recreational water). Then, the side-event will be introduced (purpose, goals and format), the scenario will be explained followed by the focus of the break-out sessions. This introduction can be given by one of the YWPs.
- During the break-out session, the groups will develop innovative solutions to the challenge and share their approaches with the broader audience afterwards. The event will culminate in a panel discussion where experts, several of them YWP members, will reflect on the proposed solutions and provide insights into their feasibility and impact.
Expected outcome
- Innovative water quality solutions: each group will present practical, creative solutions to the water quality scenario discussed. These solutions may provide actionable ideas or inspire future projects within the water sector.
- Enhanced understanding of water quality challenges: participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding water quality issues, informed by expert insights and collaborative group discussions.
- New perspectives and approaches: attendees will gain fresh perspectives on addressing water quality issues, which they can apply to their work or share within their organizations and networks.