Managing water resources among neighbors:
Israeli, Palestinian, U.S. and
Mexican water professionals
convene at LBJ School
Wrapping up a month-long project with the U.S. Department of State, the LBJ School is hosting a two-day public conference on critical issues surrounding water resource management and shared water resources in Israel and Palestine and the United States and Mexico. Free and open to the public, the conference will take place January 19 and 20 in Bass Lecture Hall at the LBJ School (see map).
Water professionals and academic experts from each country will discuss topics such as water negotiations and cooperation, the provision of water and wastewater for the poor, the role of nonprofit organizations in developing water resources, and environmental and supply issues. (A link to the conference program appears below.)
David Eaton |
"Because Palestinians and Israelis and Mexicans and Texans share similar challenges associated with living in water-short areas, the four groups together can benefit from talking about how to improve water supply and waste water services to improve the lives of their citizens," said LBJ School Professor David Eaton who is codirecting this project with LBJ School graduate students Elizabeth Lien and Miriam Schafer.
The conference is the culmination of the month-long Palestinian Authority-Israel Transboundary Water Citizen Exchange Program. Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the program brought 15 Palestinian and Israeli water professionals to Texas to expand their knowledge about water and wastewater management and promote cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli water utilities.
"It is our hope that this experience will enhance the work of the water professionals who participate," said Eaton. "After the course, they should have a better understanding of all aspects of water and wastewater supply as well as a new perspective on how water is managed in the United States. They will have developed valuable relationships with people in the region and with professionals in the United States."
Palestinian and Israeli participants visit Pflugerville
waste water facilities as part of the month-long exchange program. |
With more than 25 years of experience in environmental engineering, policymaking and conflict resolution, Professor Eaton has supported efforts to mediate water policy between some of the world's most contentious neighbors. He has devised a number of strategies to bring stakeholders together, help them reconcile their interests, and consider innovative ways that they can jointly manage shared water resources.
This event is cosponsored by the U.S. Department of State and The University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Cross-Border Initiative for Research and Development (CBIRD-GLOBAL), Kozmetsky Global Collaboratory, and Institute for Creativity and Capital (IC2).
For more information call Megan Scarborough at 512/471-8954.
Related Links
21st Century Water Management Conference program (pdf)
Navigating the politics of water: Eaton brings international water policy expertise to local level
International Security Speakers Series presents John Ikenberry (January 20, 2005)
Bob Woodward headlines Student Leadership Conference (January 27-30, 2005)
© Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
P.O. Box Y
Austin, TX 78713-8925
512-471-3200
18 January 2005
Comments to: lbjweb@uts.cc.utexas.edu
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