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WATER EDUCATION AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTCity of Waters – a venue for water cooperationSharing synergy, common interests and infrastructure with severalwater research institutions are some of the objectives of a pioneerproject named City of Waters. In the Brazilian city of Frutal, inthe State of Minas Gerais, universities and research institutions areestablishing a centre for advanced studies in water preservationand sustainable management of water resources. The project is alsocommitted to education at all levels and the formation of a newgeneration of leaders for sustainable development.The Water CondominiumOne of the main objectives of the eighth phase of the IHP (IHP VIII) 2is to put science into action. This is achieved by promoting theprocess of transforming information and experience into answeringlocal and regional needs for tools to adapt integrated water resourcesmanagement to global changes, and building competences to meet thechallenges of today’s global water challenges. To this end, it is essentialto establish knowledge platforms where stakeholders, researchers,local institutions, policymakers and education entities can exchangeand share information, communicate with each other and developnew ideas in support of policymaking and decision processes. Inthis context, a Thematic Condominium on Water joining 16 highereducation and research institutions (so far) around an anchor entity– the HidroEX International Centre – was created to face the challengeof bringing together different fields of knowledge and enhanceexisting skills on water issues. The partner research and higher educationinstitutions are: HidroEX; Minas Gerais Federal University;Ouro Preto Federal University; the State University of Minas Gerais;Uberlândia Federal University; Triângulo Mineiro Federal University;Lavras Federal University; Alfenas Federal University; Viçosa FederalUniversity; Itajubá Federal University; Cousteau Society; the PontificalCatholic University of Minas Gerais; São João Del Rey FederalUniversity; Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri Federal University;Minas Gerais Technological Center Foundation; Brazilian NationalWater Agency and Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation.The Water Condominium provides offices, laboratories, library andsupport services to scientists sharing a research interest in a commontheme of importance. It involves 10 thematic cores – water governanceand management; hydrogeology; ecohydrology; environmentalhydrology; water and agriculture; water and energy; environmentaltechnologies; geomatics; water and education; and water historyand culture. The idea is to offer a synergistic environment in whichscientists can exchange ideas and field test such concepts. Scientistsare resident in Brazil for indeterminate periods and share the resultsof their research on common themes with colleague scientists fromaround the world. The project’s outputs aim to expand a holisticapproach to water governance and management by balancing competingdemands from diverse interests such as agricultural, industrial,domestic and environmental stakeholders within the context ofclimate change, population growth and other realities confrontinghuman progress. The goal is to help member states adapt new strategiesthat will make both their ecosystems and socioeconomic systemsmore resilient to such changes and offer decision makers clear indicationsof the implications of decision they are confronting.Communication between scientists and stakeholders is an importantstep towards the development of community understandingand ownership of risk. Scientists have a responsibility to educate thecommunity they serve regarding the risks facing that community,and possible actions the community can take to reduce those risks.A simple schematization of the process of puttingscience into action can be seen as the interaction ofscience and society as presented in IHP VIII. Sciencedeals with the water-related issues of the IHP VIIIthemes and produces reports, review papers andtraining. Society – which consists of professionalsand researchers dealing with climate-related issues,policymakers and the general public – promotes theconnection of people that is facilitated by the organizationof workshops, conferences and networkingthat use social learning. Such opportunities andconnections are crucial to incubate the trust of citizensand policymakers in water professionals, whichis indispensable if the knowledge and informationprovided by these professionals is to be utilized effectivelyin society.In such a scheme, the bulk of the process is representedby the intermediate level: the ‘society- scienceinterface’, which will function as an interface betweensociety and science by producing databases, toolboxes,guidance documents and knowledge platforms.These and other similar complex issues are part of theresearch agenda of HidroEX as an excellent centre inwater, under the auspices of UNESCO.The interaction of science and society as presentedin IHP VIIIScienceSynthesis of experiencesWater quality/scarcityWater related disastersHuman settlementsGroundwaterEcohydrologyReportsPapersTrainingSociety-Science interfaceDatabasesToolboxesGuidance documentsKnowledge platformsSocietyConnecting peopleWorkshopsConferencingNetworkingMobile phonesRadioProfessionalsResearchersPolicymakersGeneral publicSource: HidroEX International Centre[ 122 ]