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Wits hosts IIES Annual Science & Policy Workshop

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Facilitated by Wits Water, the Workshop brought together leading water and environmental researchers from around the globe.

When 97 researchers, students, and policy-makers from 22 institutions across 14 countries gathered at the Wits Club in April, they came with a shared mission: tackling one of our planet's most pressing challenges through the lens of 'Improving Water Security'.

The International Institute for Environmental Studies' 9th Annual Science & Policy Workshop, organised in partnership with UNA Europa, the University of Edinburgh, Trent University, and Wits Water, created a dynamic space where cutting-edge research met real-world impact.

The gathering brought together 21 IIES-supported students, 39 local and visiting students, and 37 professors, staff, and industry professionals—all united by their commitment to addressing water security challenges.

From the molecular level to global policy, research presentations explored the full spectrum of water-related challenges. Participants shared insights on ecosystem health, emerging contaminants, transboundary water cooperation, and the complex transitions needed to adapt to climate change.

Thought-provoking plenary sessions included:

  • Professor Piotr Szwedo (Jagiellonian University): The International status of water: good, right or heritage?
  • Prof. Dr. Martina G. Vijver (Leiden University): Matter out of place: monitoring chemicals and chemical-induced effects on ecology
  • Dr. Keagan Pokpas (University of the Western Cape): Bridging the Gap: Affordable Environmental Sensors for Water Quality and Resource Management in a Sustainable Future
  • Professor Sarah Nuttall (University of the Witwatersrand): On Pluviality: Thinking with Rain and Drought

The Journey Continues: Graduate Student Forum

The collaboration didn't end there. Many participants journeyed to the scenic Wits Rural Facility in Acornhoek for the 8th International Graduate Student Forum, co-hosted by Wits and UNA Europa. This intimate follow-up brought together 83 participants from 18 institutions across 10 countries for hands-on learning and collaborative problem-solving.

The Forum's interactive workshops transformed complex environmental challenges into tangible skills:

  • Environmental Hazard & Effect Assessment vs Management – bridging the gap between scientific understanding and practical application
  • Field Collection of Wastewater – getting hands dirty with real environmental sampling techniques
  • Co-Design Collective: H?O Stewardship – reimagining water management through collaborative design thinking
  • Creating Local Catchment Maps Using QGIS – turning data into powerful tools for environmental planning

Read what some of the students had to say about their experiences:

 

    

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