UK Young Water Professionals 2012
18-20 April 2012, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Website: http://events.exeter.ac.uk/YWP2012/index.htm
The 13th International Water Association UK National Young Water Professionals' conference (IWA YWP), Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, 18-20 April 2012
The 13th IWA YWP co
nference was organised and hosted by the Centre for Water Systems (College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences), and was held from 18-20 April 2012. This conference is the ideal opportunity for young professionals working in any sector of the water industry (academic, utility, consulting) to meet with peers from the industry and to keep up-to-date with the latest research and innovation in the water industry. It is also an opportunity to meet with more senior practitioners to discuss careers, opportunities and to develop those essential networks.
This years' conference exceeded all our expectations. Over 85 people attended the conference from academia, industry, regulatory bodies, and including a contingent from the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority in Thailand.
The conference was held over two and a half days, and included 16 platform presentations, a dedicated poster session, an icebreaker party, gala dinner held at Sandy Park rugby ground and two technical tours. There was ample opportunity to mingle, and for delegates to get to know each other!
There was a great deal of energy and enthusiasm throughout the conference, aided by diverse and interesting talks ranging from the latest wastewater treatment technologies through to the design and implementation of a major airport extension in Saudi Arabia, and the water industry involvement in this large infrastructure project. Prizes were awarded for the best poster, best oral presentation, and the best poster or oral presentation related to International Development.
In addition to the presentation program, delegates had many opportunities to socialise. For the icebreaker party, we were treated to an enjoyable (and somewhat surreal) evening at South West Water, while the Gala Dinner was held at Sandy Park rugby ground, home of the Exeter Chiefs, where delegates were served local Devon food and entertained by a local band, 'The Fabulous Beaver Brothers'. The technical tours showcased local water management, with one visiting historic, water related infrastructure around Exeter, and the other exploring the 'behind the scenes' engineering aspects of Roadford Reservoir, where an introduction to South West Water's 'Upst
ream Thinking' catchment project was given, followed by fish and chips at Newquay with an introduction to the 'Clean Sweep' combined sewer overflow management project.
The IWA YWP conference is going from strength to strength, and next year it will be held at Teeside University in Darlington.
The IWA YWP Exeter Committee would like to thank our conference sponsors (South West Water, Wessex Water, Atkins and FWR), all those who worked behind the scenes and of course all our delegates who made the conference the success that it was.
Photos by 'Thru A Lupe Photographic Services'
Contact:
Diego Gomez (d.e.gomez@exeter.ac.uk)
Guangtao Fu (g.fu@exeter.ac.uk)
