CAWa Summer School 2017: Call for Applications
The Call for applications for the annual CAWa Summer School "Methods and Tools for the Assessment and Monitoring of Central Asian Water and Land Resources" has been opened. Please submit your documents by 9 April 2017. The Summer School is the fourth in a row and will be held from 5 to 17 June 2017 at the German-Kazakh University in Almaty.
Open position: CAWa Representative in Almaty
In support of our final project phase, we are looking for a highly motivated specialist in geosciences and water research, who would act as a CAWa representative in Almaty. Based at the German-Kazakh University in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and in close collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on Water Management in Central Asia, she or he would contribute to the dissemination of our project results. For details refer to the Job announcement.
WUEMoCA Workshop sets roadmap for tool implementation
From 21st to 24th November 2016, the second workshop of CAWa Workpackage III “Water Use Efficiency Monitoring” was held in Würzburg (Germany). Project partners from SIC ICWC, CAREC, KRASS, green spin and Würzburg University reviewed the status of the WUEMoCA tool and discussed further steps in tool implementation. The workshop was organized and hosted by the project partner at the Department of Remote Sensing at the Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Würzburg.
First Regional MODSNOW User Workshop held in Tashkent
From 1st to 5th of August 2016, the first Regional MODSNOW User Workshop was held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). The workshop was hosted by the Uzbek Hydrometeorological Service (Uzhydromet) and its Drought Monitoring Centre. Overall 20 participants from the national hydrometeorological services of the five Central Asian states Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as scientists from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan took part in the workshop.
22 Young Scientists trained in 3rd CAWa Summer School
The 3rd Summer School "Methods and Tools for the Assessment and Monitoring of Central Asian Water and Land Resources - From field measurements to spatial analysis" took place at the German-Kazakh University in Almaty 6-18 June 2016. Overall 22 young master and PhD students as well as young specialists from government agencies and research institutions from six countries participated in the two-week training.
Workshop discusses improvement of seasonal runoff forecasts
Within the 2nd work package of the CAWa project, the workshop “Statistical Models to Improve the Seasonal Runoff Forecast in Central Asian River Basins” was held in Almaty, 9-10 June 2016. Overall 24 participants, among them specialists from the forecasting departments of the national Hydrometeorological services of the five Central Asian countries and researchers from regional and German institutions discussed the state of seasonal runoff forecasting in Central Asia and the potential for improvement. CAWa researchers presented first preliminary results from statistical models which promise good forecasting results in data scarce Central Asian river basins.
Policy Briefs of the "German Water Initiative for Central Asia"
Launched in 2014, the series of Policy Briefs presents the main outcomes, experiences, conclusions and recommendations from the three components of the “German Water Initiative for Central Asia”. By the end of 2015, overall four Policy Briefs have been published in English and Russian, covering the topics of how earth observation technologies may contribute to informed decision making (no. 1), how to implement joint planning and management of transboundary river basins (no. 2), future scenarios for water management in the Fergana valley (no. 3), and best practices in capacity building and developing (no. 4).
First National WUEMoCA User Forum in Uzbekistan
On 10 December 2015, the first National WUEMoCA (“Water Use Efficiency Monitor in Central Asia”) User Forum was held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). The meeting gathered 20 representatives from the Basin Water Organisations Amudarya and Syrdarya, Basin Irrigation System Administrations, Irrigation System Administrations, and research institutions from all over Uzbekistan. Researchers and WUEMoCA developers from Wuerzburg University and SIC ICWC presented the preliminary version of the WUEMoCA web-tool, and discussed the specific requirements by users in irrigation management organisations.
Second CAWa Summer School at German-Kazakh University
Following up on the success of the first CAWa Summer School in 2014, the 2nd Summer School "Methods and Tools for the Assessment and Monitoring of Central Asian Water and Land Resources - From field measurements to spatial analysis" took place at the German-Kazakh University in Almaty 15-27 June 2015. Overall 23 young master and PhD students as well as young specialists from government agencies and research institutions from five countries particiated in the two-week training.
German TV documentary on Central Asia’s water problems
In June 2015, the German TV documentary „Dry Season – Central Asia’s Battle over Water“ was presented at the Kazakh-German University in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and at the Central Asian Institute of Applied Geosciences in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). Upon invitation of the CAWa project, the German filmmaker Arno Trümper and representatives of the German Federal Foreign Office discussed with Central Asian students, specialists and researchers past, recent and future water problems and conflicts in the region of Central Asia, and debated potential solutions.