Australia-India water centre seeks to enhance collaboration
The Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati has collaborated with the University of Western Sydney in Australia and 21 other partners from the two countries to set up the Australia-India Water Centre (AIWC).
The AIWC was recently virtually inaugurated by Australia’s Minister for Education Dan Tehan and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The MoU signed between the partners includes collaboration in water research, a joint Master’s-level programme in water futures, student and staff exchanges, workshops and conferences and provision of short-term training in the water sector to government agencies and other participants.
The MoU has an initial duration of five years and will aim to develop longer-term collaboration in water research and knowledge & technology transfer.
This will be done through development of tools and techniques to tackle future water and food security challenges including improved management of groundwater, springs, stormwater and coastal reservoirs and capacity building/training programmes for government department staff, policymakers, NGOs and industry personnel besides promotion of water expertise of the Centre partners to help expand engagement and networking internationally.
“Water is likely to play a key economic and strategic role in the future. This Centre will focus on collaboration in transdisciplinary research, capacity building and knowledge and technology transfer, particularly on aspects of water and food security, safe drinking water supplies, river health, water-energy-food nexus, water for liveable cities and other related facets of mutual benefits to Australia and India”, said IIT-G Director TG Sitharam.
