Prepared by: Ts. Dr. Kogila Vani Annammala & Dr. Mohd Ridza Mohd Haniffah
Celebrating another year of both a successful and smooth conference year for the organizing committee, the 5th International Conference on Water Resources (ICWR 2021) was held from 23rd to 25th November 2021 via virtual platform.
ICWR has been a signature conference by the Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia.
This year, the focus shifted from ‘Water as Resources and for Livelihood’ to ‘Innovating for Resilience and Enhanced Preparedness to Water-Related Challenges’.
The conference acted as a platform to understand the existing water resources management strategies adopted in Malaysia compared to those in other countries across the world.
Academics, scientists, leading engineers, researchers, water managers, government officials and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines working on water resources and sustainability science attended, the conference to share knowledge, discuss and exchange ideas on ‘Innovating for Resilience and Enhanced Preparedness to Water’ related issues.
This conference brought over 70 presenters across various fields. The live and public views on broadcasted plenary sessions 1 and 2, via the organizer’s Facebook and YouTube pages, attracted over 100 participants, and still counting. ICWR 2021 had presenters and attendees from the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and from all in a common virtual platform.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, travel and gathering restrictions did not halt the gathering for the ICWR 2021. It once again became the medium to exchange ideas and experiences, keeping them with current techniques and new innovative developments, best solutions and methodologies in the field of water resources and sharing of knowledge on the global climate change, water resources and environmental management on the virtual ground.
ICWR 2021 started with a difference. It began through the live and free telecast to public access to two distinguished keynote sharing.
The distinguished keynote speakers were the Secretary-General of Ministry of Environment and Water, YBhg. Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Zaini Ujang, and the Director General of Department of Irrigation and Drainage, YBhg. Dato’ Ir. Haji Nor Hisham Mohd Ghazali.
A welcoming remark was given by the Chairman, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohamad Hidayat Jamal and was later officiated by Minister of Environment and Water, Malaysia, YB Dato’ Sri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who firmly believed that ICWR 2021 is an appropriate platform in the proliferation of ideas and actions to bring Malaysia towards a developed country in water resources management.
ICWR 2021 also hosted other keynotes and invited speakers from academics, research, and industry backgrounds who are experts in their respective fields.
The speakers were from Kyoto University, Japan, Prof. Dr. Tetsuya Sumi, UTM, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shamsuddin Shahid and Selangor Waters Management Authority, Mr. Nor Zamri Sondor.
The invited speakers were from University of Oxford, United Kingdom, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ton Van den Bremer, Chang’ An University, China, Prof. Dr. Ping Ping Luo, National Water Research Institute of Malaysia, Ir. Ts. Dr. Safari Haji Mat Desa, and Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia, Ir. Arman Mokhtar and Ir. Dr. Asnor Muizan Haji Ishak.
ICWR 2021 was another success story for the organizers with technical support and commitment from task forces, scientific and technical committee, staff of the School of Civil Engineering, UTM School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE), and sponsors.
The organizers are now at the phase of planning for publication in recognized and indexed journals on the very valuable, high quality and impactful research findings shared throughout the conference.
For those who missed the event, stay tuned for the calling in 2024.