Bangkok--24 Sep--Asian Institute of Technology
Mainstreaming water management into economic, social and environmental sustainability objectives is a key challenge that water professionals will face in the coming years, with an objective of balancing costs and benefits of national water assets within our socio-economic environment. Highlighting 50 years of developments in the water sector was Dr. Mogens Dyhr-Nielsen, who was delivering the Second AIT Distinguished Adjunct Faculty (DAF) Seminar on 22 September 2015.
Dr. Mogens, who served as Associate Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources as a seconded faculty member at AIT from 1984-86, strongly advocated the creation of what he called a Ministry of Water Assets that could ensure a synchronisation of development objectives with management issues. Policy, institutions and instruments have to work towards achieving social, economic and sustainable objectives, he said. This will ensure a proper interface of water with natural hazards, transportation, people, energy, nature, industry and food.
While tracing the route of the water-related issues during the past five decades, Dr. Mogens mentioned that the trend is towards creating networks rather than treating these issues in an isolated box. He postulated a "Waterbox" comprising of five elements including computers, mobiles with GPS systems, applications, Internet of Things, and robots and drones, which interacts with a "PeopleBox" that includes another set of elements, namely, internet of ideas, social information networks, new learning, new economics and new laws and regulations. This will help us move from an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) towards a River Basin Asset Management (RBAM), he concluded.
Dr. Mogens was introduced by Dr. Apichart Anukularmphai, President of the Thailand Water Resources Association and Member of the AIT Executive Committee. Informing the audience about the Asian Water Academy (AWA), Dr. Apichart said that he felt privileged to have been part of the establishment of AWA, which is the first such academy in the region, and aims to be a leader on water issues within the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). AWA was established by eight founder members, including AIT on 10 June 2015.
Describing Dr. Mogens as an authority on water, AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai welcomed him back to AIT. Highlighted the significance of the DAF Seminar Series, Prof. Worsak said:. "Whenever I meet people who had served at AIT, they always volunteer saying that they wanted to help AIT." The DAF Seminar series in one way in which former AIT faculty members can continue their engagement with the Institute.
This was the Second DAF Seminar organized at AIT, which was launched on 28 August 2015
Photo caption: Dr. Mogens Dyhr-Nielsen (left) is seen with AIT President, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.