Transcript M Saidam_COMSTECH_Islamabad_Dec2014x

COMSTECH- Consultative Meeting - OIC Summit on Science and
Technology, Islamabad (1– 2 December 2014)
Potential Fields of Collaborative Water Research in
OIC Countries
By
Muhammad Saidam, PhD
Chief Science Officer
Nart Hameed
Science Diplomacy Specialist
Aim of presentation
Share RSS experience in water research
 Present a view on Threats & opportunities
Topical issues for collaborative research
Propose a way forward for cooperation
among OIC countries in water research
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From RSS Fact Sheet
• RSS is the largest applied research institution, consultancy, &
technical support service provider in Jordan.
• Is a forty years old NGO, self-sustaining - financially independent.
• Has over 25 specialized locally & internationally accredited labs.
– Water quality and device efficiency – food – construction materials, electrical
devices - calibration …Conduct about 30,000 tests annually.
• Has more than 500, technical staff, highly skilled management,
support staff and faculty.
• Area of RSS campus is 340,000 squared meters.
• PSUT was borne out of RSS
PhD (6%)
MSc (23%)
BSc (71%)
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RSS Strategic Direction
for water research
• Steering research towards problem-solving
– to improve efficiency in utilizing water resources
– through introducing and adapting new technologies
• Provision of scientific-based results to enable
developing more rational policies and adapted
technologies
• Putting scientific knowledge at the service of society
and the development process
• Success of water research requires
– a systematic, multi-disciplinary & inclusive approach,
– building partnerships with governmental institutes, private
sector, and communities
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RSS philosophy …
• Research not only ‘water for life” but also:
for development
peace & security
poverty alleviation
quality of life
• Despite the political realities;
cooperation remains inevitable
– To meet the water scarcity challenges
» inaction should not be an option
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Why collaborative research …
1. Better value for money spent on R&D
 through knowledge sharing and exchange
2. Coordinating / optimizing water use in agricultural
production
 the virtual water – trading concept
3. To tackle shared water problems
 climate change: “regional modeling”, adaptation &
mitigation measures
4. Improves funding chances
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Threats …to mention a few
 With water getting increasingly scarcer
 Structural changes in water allocations / priorities
 Less water allocated for agriculture
 Socio-economic repercussions
 Higher prices for water and food
 More food imports
 Possible negative implications e.g. GM crops & foods
 Economic implications …vulnerable communities
 More water reuse and tapping unconventional resources
 Public health implications
 Again higher costs e.g. desalination
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Response ….can
be common to all
• From a political perspective
Political will
Commitment by allocating resources
• In as far as the scientific community
Applied research to increase Resilience
Not only technological
But also socio-economic
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Opportunities … created
by threats
• Faced by common challenges
 Can / should
problems
create alliances to solve common
e.g. Energy – Water - Food
 Promoting peace and security
 Countries cooperating on solving water problems are
less likely to go to war
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RSS Water Research Agenda
(2012 – 2015)
Resource
efficiency
Water Quality
Protection:
Monitoring
systems,
Assessment
techniques,
pollution
prevention,
Treatment
technologies,
Health impact
Efficient use
of available
water;
Conservation,
Water Reuse
Data
Management
& modeling of
water Systems
in Support of
policy making
Quality
Assurance
Certification
of water
equipment &
materials
Green Innovations
Science
to
Society
Innovative
designs of
water &
sanitation
systems for
green
buildings,
Adaptation to
Climate
Change,
Water-energy
integrated
designs
Outreach,
Drivers of
Change, socioeconomic
components
will be
embedded in
pertinent
projects
Wastewater
disposal,
treatment &
reuse at
various scales
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Areas of experience in Water & Environment
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Real-time water quality monitoring system (RTMS)
Assessment of water and wastewater quality
Bio-solids treatment, management and reuse
Community-based environmental studies
Wastewater and grey water management, treatment and reuse
Utilizing social marketing tools to foster proper behaviors to enhance
water and energy use efficiency.
7) Assessment of air quality (Ambient air, point sources, vehicular sources,
working area) & on-line air quality (AQ) monitoring
8) Hazardous materials management systems
9) Cleaner production (CP): Member of UNEP and UNIDO RECP global
network
10) Environmental audit (EA) & Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
11) Climate change studies (inventory, mitigation, adaptation, etc)
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Potential for Collaboration
 Cognizant of the slow progress made in meeting the water
challenge in OIC:
 A collaborative research program to Devise a Logical Foundation in
support of Knowledge-based Decision-making and Investment in the
water sector vis-à-vis :
 Efficient utilization of available quantities (managing demand )
 Conservation and optimization in various water consumption sectors
 Augmentation of water quantities (managing the supply)
 Desalination, reuse, import / transfer ….
 Need a multidisciplinary research team
 Water, agricultural engineers & scientists, economists, planners …
 Expected Outcome: alternative solutions to tackle water scarcity
tailored to local conditions.
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RSS Science diplomacy initiative
• Scientists / scientific institutes – policy / decision maker
collaboration is weak even at national levels in OIC countries.
 One reason why science advancement and collaboration is nearly
absent from / has little impact on tackling existential problems like
energy, water and food.
• Scientific results are not being communicated to society and
policymakers and little impact is felt
• The growing global area of Science Diplomacy offers a response to
this challenge.
• As part of promoting the scientific agenda
 Building the Capacity of Diplomats in order to equip them with a new
set of skills and knowledge in S&T is proposed
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Promoting Science Diplomacy
1. Promoting the value of science among diplomats

foreign ministries, embassies and Heads of Mission
2. Incorporating science policy training into induction courses and
training for foreign ministry staff,

& specialist diplomatic training for dedicated science officers.
3. Encouraging independent scientific bodies to provide science
policy briefings for foreign ministry and embassy staff
4. Involving more scientists in foreign ministries to advise at senior
and strategic levels
5. Encouraging secondments and pairing between diplomats and
scientists.
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