In honor of United Nations World Water Day, the 10th Annual Massachusetts Water Forum is hosted by Foundation for a Green Future along with the European Union Tech Chamber (EUTECC) and its Environmental Alliance Group, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC), Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA), and Apparel Impact. (Please continue reading for speakers and program - click Read More) To register go to: bit.ly/MAWater10
Each year, the Massachusetts Water Forum unites legislators, local elected officials, water specialists, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, community members and landscape architects, designers and planners with a view to actively discussing policy change re: issues pertaining to our water resources. This year's event will carry through on the UN's theme of Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible.
Given the virtual aspect of this event, Foundation for a Green Future is proud to partner with EU Tech Chamber and invite a global discussion about this topic - how we are dealing with groundwater issues in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and how we can work together to confront these issues worldwide. Within this space, the UN is inviting us all to look at bringing to the surface an issue that is vital to our wellbeing but is hidden from view. Along with our technical and environmental conversation, we also plan to add to our discussion, the social/cultural/racial aspect of how we treat groundwater resources.
Register now (free): bit.ly/MAWater10
PROGRAM (Times given in EDT and subject to change)
Welcome!
9:30 Dr. Karen Weber-Salamanca, Executive Director, Foundation for a Green Future
9:32 María Alejandra Pulido, Environment Council Director, EU TECH Chamber
9:37 Senator Becca Rausch, Chairperson, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA)
Panels and Breakout Discussions
9:50 Panel I: Challenges and Opportunities
10:35 Short Documentary: GROUNDWATER: The film. Video collage by Ben Keller on Vimeo (March 12, 2020)
10:40 Native American inspiration: Ed Koban
10:45 Panel II: Strategies and Solutions
11:30 Breakout Sessions/Discussion Groups (4)
(1) Community Impact and Social Justice
(2) Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Green Design
(3) Local-Global Collaborative Thinking
(4) Policy Outlook: Making the Invisible Visible
12:20 Wrap-up
THE LINE-UP!
PANEL 1: Challenges and Opportunities
Gretchen Rabinkin, Executive Director, Boston Society of Landscape Architects
Christian Simonelli, Executive Director, Boston Groundwater Trust
Erum Sattar, Lecturer and Program Director, Sustainable Water Management program, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
Vishwanath Srikantaiah, Founder, Rainwater Club; Director, Biome Environmental Solutions, India
Stanley Liphadzi, Group Executive, Water Research Commission, S. Africa
Sophie Santillan, PostGrad, Masters in Sustainability, Harvard University - MODERATOR
PANEL 2: Strategies and Solutions
Craig Ari Rothleitner, Director/Founder, ARI Water Solutions, Australia
Michela Catena, Water Resources Engineer, Tetra Tech
Scott Bishop, Committee Chair of the Climate Action Committee, ASLA
Chris P. Nwachukwu, Environmentalist, Green Promise Initiative, Nigeria
Veena Srinivasan, Director, Centre for Social and Environmental Innovation, ATREE, India
Isaias Medina III, Environmental and Humanitarian Advocate, UN Ambassador-at-Large, Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands - MODERATOR
Discussion Group 1: Community Impact and Social Justice
Representative Nika Elugardo, 15th Suffolk, Massachusetts Legislature
Ambereen Mirza, President, OPEN Global
Ed Koban, Mohawk Educator, Upstate New York
Darline Perkins, Native, Community and Social Awareness Builder
Vishwanath Srikantaiah, Founder, Rainwater Club; Director, Biome Environmental Solutions, India
Chris P. Nwachukwu, Environmentalist, Green Promise Initiative, Nigeria
Gretchen Rabinkin, Executive Director, Boston Society of Landscape Architects
Discussion Group 2: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Green Design
Angelina Jao, Co-Founder/CEO, van der Becq Holdings, LLC
Akeem Amao, CEO, Aquafrica Solutions, Nigeria
Craig Ari Rothleitner, Director/Founder, ARI Water Solutions, Australia
Scott Bishop, Committee Chair of the Climate Action Committee, ASLA
Maria Alejandra Pulido, Environment Council Director, EU TECH Chamber
Michael Bezdek, Executive Director, Conscious Coalition
Discussion Group 3: Local-Global Collaborative Thinking
Sibylle Zavala, Climate Consultant, Go.Blue.Now, Germany
Fai Cassian Ndi, Executive Director, YoDo Cameroon
Michela Catena, Water Resources Engineer, Tetra Tech
Erum Sattar, Lecturer and Program Director, Sustainable Water Management Program, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
Sophie Santillan, PostGrad, Masters in Sustainability, Harvard University - MODERATOR
Discussion Group 4: Policy Outlook: Making the Invisible Visible
Christian Simonelli, Executive Director, Boston Groundwater Trust
Stanley Liphadzi, Group Executive, Water Research Commission, S. Africa
Senator Becca Rausch. Chair, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA)
Veena Srinivasan, Director, Centre for Social and Environmental Innovation, ATREE, India
Adriana Cillo, Educational Programs Coordinator, Boston Water & Sewer Commission (BWSC)
Isaias Medina III, Environmental and Humanitarian Advocate, UN Ambassador-at-Large, Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands
