ALUMNI E-UPDATE | September 2009

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Dear Alumnus, warm regards from Delft!

Autumn has arrived in the Netherlands and UNESCO-IHE is preparing for the arrival and registration of the 2009-2011 batch of new MSc participants. This year 210 professionals will be coming from 49 countries. The Academic Programme will be officially opened by our new Rector, Prof. András Szöllösi-Nagy, on Thursday 15 October. If you would like to remember your first days at the Institute visit the UNESCO-IHE Facebook Group.

Hoping you enjoy this news edition!

Maria Laura Sorrentino, Alumni Officer

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In this issue

. Professor András Szöllösi-Nagy first speech to UNESCO-IHE staff members
. UNESCO-IHE says farewell to Rector Richard Meganck
. ALUMNI email address update campaign
. Nuffic / Holland Alumni Conference 2009
. UNESCO-IHE Online and Short Courses 2010
. PhD defences: Ms Li Hong, Mr Lesser, Mr Carlos Lopez Vasquez, Mr Gerald Corzo Perez and Mr Durga Lal Shrestha
. PhD positions available
. International Water Association (IWA) Development Congress
. 3rd International Congress on Biotechniques for Air Pollution Control
. UNESCO-IHE hosts UN Inter-Agency Meeting on Knowledge Sharing and Information Management
. Refresher Seminars 2009
. Alumni gatherings
. UNESCO-IHE dinner talk at NESO Thailand
. Alumni News
. Reminder
. Contact

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"Water education is key in solving water issues on a thirsty planet," Professor András Szöllösi-Nagy first speech to UNESCO-IHE staff

Professor András Szöllösi-Nagy, newly appointed Rector at UNESCO-IHE, addressed for the first time UNESCO-IHE staff members in the Institute’s auditorium on 15 September 2009, introducing himself and giving a brief overview of his ideas for the future. On 5 November he will deliver his inaugural address and will speak on the subject of "Hydrological forecasting models". A Meet and Greet reception will take place afterwards to give the Institute's closest friends and partners the opportunity to meet him.

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UNESCO-IHE says farewell to Rector Richard Meganck

Professor Richard Meganck, previous Rector of UNESCO-IHE, retired on 4 September 2009. UNESCO-IHE celebrated his retirement on 2 July 2009, with staff members and students. He served a six-year period as Rector at the Institute. You will be able to see the pictures of the event by visiting the UNESCO-IHE Facebook group.

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Alumni email addresses update campaign
 
UNESCO-IHE aims to reach more UNESCO-IHE Alumni by email. Currently less than 50% of our alumni are listed in our directory with their most up-to-date contact details. We would like to request for your help in keeping your contact details up-to-date at all times. Please do not hesitate to inform your colleagues about the update campaign.

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Nuffic / Holland Alumni Conference 2009

On 5 and 6 November 2009 the Nuffic Holland Alumni Conference will take place at the Bel Air Hotel in The Hague. This two-day conference will be an unique event where a selected group of Netherlands Alumni from seven different areas of expertise will share insights on current topics in their field of knowledge. UNESCO-IHE will participate in this conference and is responsible for coordinating the water management workshop.

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UNESCO-IHE Online and Short Courses 2010

The new UNESCO-IHE Online and Short Courses 2010 brochure is available!

NEW!! The alumni discount has increased!
Starting on 1 January 2010 all alumni will get 30% discount on all Online and Short Course tuition fees.

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PhD defences

In the last months 5 PhD candidates successfully defended their theses and received their Doctorate Degree.

On 15 June, Mr Carlos Lopez Vasquez from Mexico, was awarded the doctoral degree cum laude. The PhD research focused on:"Addressing the key factors affecting the PAO-GAO competition".

On 29 June, Ms Hong Li from China, was awarded the doctoral degree cum laude. The PhD research focused on “spatial pattern dynamics in aquatic ecosystem modelling”.

On 4 July, Mr Giles Lesser from the Netherlands defended his thesis entitled: "An approach to medium-term coastal morphological modelling".


On 4 September, Mr Gerald Augusto Corzo Perez from Colombia defended his doctorate thesis entitled: ‘Hybrid models for hydrological forecasting: Integration of data-driven and conceptual modelling techniques’.


On 28 September, Mr Durga Lal Shrestha from Nepal defended his doctorate thesis entitled: ‘Uncertainty Analysis in Rainfall-Runoff Modelling: Application of Machine Learning Techniques’.


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PhD positions available

- 2 PhD positions available : "Natural Systems for Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: Technology Adaptations and Implementation in Developing Countries (NATSYS)."
Application deadline: 20 October 2009

- "Impact of Salinity on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater." Application deadline: 1 November 2009

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International Water Association (IWA) Development Congress

The 1st International Water Association (IWA) Development Congress will be held 15 to 17 November 2009 in Mexico City, Mexico. The conference will have a strong focus on what works in a development setting and those projects that have potential for large-scale delivery. Attendees will comprise of 1,000 water and sanitation professionals from the Latin American region and from across the globe. Participants will include researchers, practitioners, policy makers, consultants, manufacturers, technology suppliers and members of the international development community. UNESCO-IHE will play an active role in the various sessions. An Alumni Gathering will take place, details will be announced in the coming weeks.

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3rd International Congress on Biotechniques for Air Pollution Control

The 3rd International Congress on Biotechniques for Air Pollution Control was held from 28-30 September at UNESCO-IHE. 110 participants from universities and industries attended the 3-day meeting. It was a great opportunity for professionals, young researchers and PhD students to discuss innovative research aspects of environmental engineering and bioprocess technology. The event was co-organised by the Pollution Prevention and control Core of UNESCO-IHE and the Environmental Engineering group of the University of La Coruña in Spain.

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UNESCO-IHE hosts UN Inter-Agency Meeting on Knowledge Sharing and Information Management

The annual United Nations Inter-Agency Meeting on Knowledge Sharing and Information Management (KSIM), this year hosted by the UNESCO-IHE Library and Information Services, was held at UNESCO-IHE from 28 to 30 September.  Participants from various UN agencies attended the meeting to build and develop Knowledge Management (KM) networks and programmes. Among other topics, special attention was given to the development of intellectual property issues.

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Refresher Seminars 2009

Kenya August 2009
The Refresher Seminar "The Ecology of Livelihoods in African Wetlands" for UNESCO-IHE alumni in Sub-Saharan Africa was held successfully in Kenya from 24-28 August. Venue for the seminar was the Agricultural Resources Centre (ARC) Hotel at Egerton University in Njoro, near Nakuru.  The seminar was sponsored by NUFFIC which funded the participation of 22 alumni. In addition, WaterNet sponsored another five participants. The total number of registered participants in the course was 33 from 12 countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and Cameroon). You will be able to see the pictures of the event by visiting the UNESCO-IHE
Facebook group.

Thailand November 2009
110 alumni applications have been received for the Refresher Seminar on "Disaster management of Urban Water Systems under Climate Change" that will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 23-28 November. 20 alumni from different Asian countries have been selected to participate with sponsoring from NUFFIC.

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Alumni Gatherings

Kenya, August 2009
UNESCO-IHE alumni met for dinner, drinks and music at the Merica Hotel in Nakuru, Kenya on 28 August 2009. The meeting was organised in conjunction with the Farewell Dinner of the Refresher Seminar "The Ecology of Livelihoods in African Wetlands", held at Egerton University. Apart from the participants in the course, a number of Kenyan alumni travelled to Nakuru especially for this meeting. A total of 29 alumni were present, the "oldest" graduated in 1990 and the "youngest" in 2009.

Upcoming Alumni Gatherings
-  The Netherlands, Delft, 5 November 2009
-  Thailand, November 2009, during the Refresher Seminar
-  Mexico, November 2009, during the IWA congress

Data and locations will be announced soon!!

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UNESCO-IHE presentation at NESO Thailand

Nuffic NESO Thailand organised a Dinner Talk on 27 August, 2009 at Sukhothai Hotel, Bangkok. The topic was "UNESCO-IHE's response to the Millennium Development Goals" by Mr. Jan Herman Koster, Head of the Department of Urban Water and Sanitation. His words were followed by a speech of Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thein, Senior Executive Advisor to the President of AIT and UNESCO-IHE alumna who talked about her study-years in Delft and the importance of that experience for her carreer development. The dinner was attended by 70 representatives of the water and educational sector and alumni. It was a good event to share experiences and promote the educational role of our Institute.

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ALUMNI NEWS

New alumni couples!
Ms Luz Andrea Silva Restrepo (Colombia) and Mr Julien Chenet (France) both alumni batch 2005-07 were married last July and settled down in Bogota.
Ms Helga Calix Ponce (Honduras) and Mr Loreen Villacorte (Philippines) both alumni batch 2006-08 were married last August in Honduras.

Congratulations to all happy couples!!!

From Mr Kumidinie Samarasinghe (alumnus 01-03)
Sri Lanka is in the process of negotiating a loan from the ADB for upgrading the waste water infrastructure system. Currently we are looking for consultants to assist in this project. Should you be interested, please see more information here: www.cmc.lk and http://csrn.adb.org under the Greater Colombo Waste water Management Project.

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Reminder

> UNESCO-IHE groups on Facebook and LinkedIn
> Call for opinion pieces & Field report articles
> UNESCO-IHE at Wikipedia, help us translate!
> The WaterChannel
> Akvo.org

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Maria Laura Sorrentino
Alumni Officer UNESCO-IHE



UNESCO-IHE
PO Box 3015
2601 DA Delft
The Netherlands

T +31 (0)15 215 1715
F +31 (0)15 212 2921
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