GWD Conference 2019: Call for Abstracts

The roles of the groundwater resource and the groundwater professional are highlighted at the 16th Ground Water Division Conference and Exhibition to be held in Port Elizabeth 20-23 October 2019.  The event is organised by the Eastern Cape Branch with assistance of the national executive committee and promises to expand on the very important theme in Demand, Availability and Surety within the broader them of Groundwater: The Sustainability Issue.

We are happy to announce that we are 99% certain of the contribution of the 2019 Distinguished Darcy Lecturer, John Doherty, to one of the keynote sessions.  Author of PEST, we look forward to his insights into uncertainty quantification associated with model parameterisation as it relates to groundwater modelling.

South Africa faced severe droughts during the preceding few years, and the adverse effects were exacerbated following the intense rainfalls resulting in severe flooding and surface subsidence in certain areas.  This places the groundwater profession at important cross-roads to highlight the role of the groundwater scientist in addressing the water demand and sustainability concerns, while being proactive in the mitigation of hydrological risks.  With the increase in private and commercial use of groundwater, the onus falls on the groundwater scientists to adequately assess risk and possible yields of underground resources while also informing policy and the environmentally conscientious use of groundwater.

Specific themes are:

• Groundwater drilling: site selection, construction, methods, and hydraulic and quality testing
• Groundwater management: around recharge and abstraction, groundwater monitoring, co-operation between private users and water service providers
• Water conservation: water availability versus water use, efficient water use, user expectation
• Groundwater science: other topics not falling within the preceding but based on thorough scientific understanding of a given aspect of the groundwater science.

We invite original research abstracts to this conference.  Fitting into the broad theme of Sustainability, all contributions are welcome, provided that it adequately employs the scientific method to contribute to problems fundamentally based in the hydrogeological profession while advancing scientific knowledge, promoting diligence and mitigation, advancing public involvement and awareness, and informing legislation and governance. Case studies and “lessons learnt” submissions are welcome, provided that it is scientifically sound.

Abstracts should not exceed 300 words (excluding title and authors) and should clearly indicate whether submission is for oral or poster presentation.  Authors acknowledge that abstracts will be submitted for peer review, that extended abstracts may be submitted on approval, and that a presenting author will be required to attend the conference prior to finalising of acceptance.

Abstracts are submitted online https://gwd.org.za/abstract-submission/
and closes on 30 April 2019.