4 – 5 December 2024, online

Despite many efforts, little progress has been made so far in tackling the biodiversity crisis; the extinction of species continues unabated. The COP-15 in Kunming-Montreal adopted an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022. Among other things, the signatory states committed to bringing the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance close to zero by 2030, while respecting the rights of indigenous people (target 1). There is also a commitment to the effective restoration of at least 30% of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems by 2030 (target 2) – and the remaining targets 3 to 23 are no less ambitious. But how realistic is this post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and what does it take to make this framework a success? And we will ask whether COP-16 in Cali/Columbia (October 21 to November 1, 2024) will generate new impetus and momentum here.

Against this backdrop, the BMBF Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA) invites colleagues from science, politics and business, from Europe and around the world to join the digital international conference “Reversing biodiversity loss – Conflicts, telecoupling and successful practices”, which will focus on the following topics and key questions:

• How can the transformation to a biodiversity-positive world, as called for by the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, actually be achieved by 2030? What examples of best practice are there and what are the most promising approaches?

• What contribution can and should science, politics and business make in order to achieve this goal? How promising are nature-based solutions in this context?
  What approaches are there for overcoming conflicting goals and avoiding negative effects from telecoupling?

The Hydro4U project will be represented by project partner TIIAME with a presentation on “The impact of hydropower development on fish diversity in Central Asia mountain rivers.”

For further information visit: https://invitepeople.com/events/bc84115a37#login

6 December 2024, online

On 6 December 2024, from 13:30 to 15:00 CET, the latest session in the webinar series “Boosting Hydropower: Best Practices for Research” will present the latest advances in hydropower technology. Organised by the ETIP HYDROPOWER project, this session will introduce three EU research projects and highlight the main conclusions of the 2024 report “Hydropower and Pumped Hydropower Storage in the European Union”.

Featured Projects and Presenters:

• SHERPA: Ademir Suárez from Iberdrola Spain will present SHERPA, which aims to develop and validate innovative technologies for the refurbishment of existing hydropower plants in order to extend and/or adapt their operating range to include lower water flows, without compromising their lifetime, economic viability, and environmental and impact.
• RevHydro: Michel Cervantes from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, will introduce RevHydro, an initiative intended to develop and implement technologies that address the efficiency, environmental impact, and operational challenges faced by hydropower plants, especially ageing ones, due to changes in energy demand, climate conditions, and technological developments.
• STOR-HY: Alexandre Presas from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain, will present the STOR-HY project, which focuses on extending the lifespan of pumped storage hydropower plants and retrofitting equipment through smart monitoring and control technologies. It also targets challenging areas for storage application such as seawater and coal mines.

The webinar will also feature contributions from Emanuele Quaranta of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), who will present the main findings of the Clean Energy Technology Observatory (CETO) Hydropower 2024 report, and Anton Schleiss from the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), will be presenting ETIP HYDROPOWER.

This webinar will provide an opportunity to learn about the latest research developments in hydropower across Europe.

How to Join:

Interested participants can register for the webinar here.

You can find the agenda also here.

For further information visit: https://etip-hydropower.eu/latest-news/webinar-boosting-hydropower-best-practices-for-research-with-sherpa-revhydro-and-stor-hy/ 

18 September 2024, online

On 18 September 2024, from 1:30PM to 3:00PM CET, the latest session in the “Boosting Hydropower: Best Practices for Research” webinar series will present recent advancements in hydropower technology. Organised under the ETIP HYDROPOWER project, this session will highlight three EU research projects.

Featured Projects and Presenters:

Re-Hydro: Atle Harby from SINTEF Energy Research will discuss Re-Hydro, a project focused on refurbishing and modernising European hydropower to play a significant role in future power systems. The project prioritises sustainability and addresses societal needs within the context of climate change.

Store2Hydro: Staffan Lundström from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, will introduce Store2Hydro, a four-year initiative funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme. This project aims to optimise electricity storage by integrating reversible pump turbine technology into existing hydropower infrastructures.

Renewat: Clement Van Straaten from ASKEUL will present the RENEWAT project, which addresses the cultural and territorial aspects of repurposing water mills for renewable energy. The project involves partners from six EU countries who will share knowledge and support renewable energy initiatives in existing water mills, with the goal of enhancing the skills of local and regional actors.

Additionally, the webinar will feature contributions from Emanuele Quaranta of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and Anton Schleiss from the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), who will represent ETIP HYDROPOWER.

This webinar provides an opportunity to learn about the latest research developments in hydropower across Europe.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6496875010094835798

13 – 17 May 2024, Munich, Germany

IFAT is the world’s leading network for environmental technologies. In addition to the world’s leading trade fair IFAT Munich, this network also includes trade fairs in China, India, South Africa, Brasil and Turkey. A global network for decision-makers in companies in the environmental technology sector with specific solutions for the respective challenges in the different markets.

Hydro4U representative and project partner MUHR will be participating in this event with a booth.

For further information visit: Home (ifat.de)

13 – 15 May 2024, Astana, Kazakhstan

During the “Sustainable Development Solutions Network Conference” in Astana, Kazakhstan the Hydro4U partner ILF will conribute to a workshop that will be organised jointly by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network of Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University, Science Fund of Kazakhstan, the European Union (EU) funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” and Chevron.

The workshop aims to highlight how Horizon Europe and especially Cluster 5 “Climate, Energy and Mobility” is relevant to participants from academia and research institutes. Funding schemes, projects and initiatives will be presented that match the priorities of stakeholders from Central Asia. The event gathers national and international speakers who presented on how Horizon Europe can support addressing challenges in areas such as sustainable energy.

Hydro4U will be represented by partner ILF.

For further information visit: https://secca.eu/event/workshop-horizoneu-140524/ 

5 – 9 May 2024, Québec, Canada

Launched in 1994, the International Symposia on Ecohydraulics aim to provide a platform for scientists and engineers worldwide to discuss cutting-edge scientific progress, compare and evaluate state-of-the-art technical methods, and recommend them to the end-users. This joint event aims to foster discussion on research and management of aquatic ecosystems and how their connectivity and processes are being impacted by climate change.

Hydro4U representative Daniel S. Hayes from BOKU attended this conference, presenting our studies on ecohydraulics within our project, conducted in collaboration with project partners TIIAME, SJE and INBO

For further information visit: Ecohydraulics | Ecohydraulics community website

14 – 19 April 2024, Vienna, Austria

Hydro4U representative Hannah Schwedhelm from TUM attended this General Assembly, holding a presentation within Session HS9.6 on Hydro-morphological processes and links to ecology in freshwater systems: numerical and monitoring approaches.

For further information visit: EGU24 – Home and Abstract EGU24-17002 (copernicus.org)

29 – 31 May 2024, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

The 2024 GIS-in-Central-Asia Conference continues the tradition of GISCA conferences and will be held as an on-site conference at the Kyrgyz State Technical University in Bishkek.

The conference committee invites scientific papers on the stated conference themes with a focus on the Central Asian Region. Active participation in the conference is welcome as presentation of a paper or poster, through personal attendance with discussion and comments. Submission of abstracts or papers will be accepted until May 1.

Poster uploads: open after April 15 at https://arcg.is/0eiLTz0

For further information visit: GISCA 2024 | ACAGIScience (aca-giscience.org)

12 – 17 February 2024, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

The 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) is set to take place in the historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 12 to 17 February 2024.

The conference will be convened under the slogan, “Nature knows no borders”, which, along with the logo, is a reminder that the journeys of migratory species do not adhere to political boundaries, and that their survival is dependent on international collaboration and transboundary conservations efforts.

CMS COP14 is a significant international meeting where governments, scientists and stakeholders will come together to agree on strategies for the conservation of migratory species and their habitats.

For further information visit: COP 14 | CMS

9 February 2024, online webinar

This webinar isn’t just an event – it’s a platform for learning, sharing, and driving meaningful change. Whether you’re a professional in the field or simply passionate about sustainable water management, your participation is valuable.

What’s on the agenda? Insightful discussions led by esteemed professionals in science, policy, and industry. The goal is to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas, highlighting the pivotal contributions and unique challenges faced by women in water management.

Highlights of the Webinar:

• Expert Insights: Gain perspectives from leaders making a real impact in the water sector.
• Network Building: Connect with peers and industry trailblazers.
• Collaborative Approaches: Discover and discuss innovative solutions to current and future water management challenges.

This webinar is strongly supported by Hydro4U.

For further information visit: Join Our Upcoming WE-ACT Webinar: Empowering Women in Water – WE-ACT (weact-project.eu) and watch the full webinar recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSvh7PaL32Y