Panama to Host World Congress on Water Management

Although there certainly can be no life on this planet without water, for Panama, the abundance of H2O represents a universal contribution, not only because it sustains one of the most diverse biological corners of the globe, also because it has forged Panama into an important link in international trade.

It is for the aforementioned reasons that the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) has chosen the Central American country as the site of its upcoming World Congress, to be held September 1-6 at Panama City’s Riu Plaza hotel.

According to Maite Prieto of Paragon Group (a meetings & congress planning firm), the existence of the Panama Canal was a pivotal element in choosing the country as the host of such a major event. The selection process started in 2013 and entailed competing against candidates such as Malaysia, Spain, and South Africa. The selection of Panama as the host country of the 2019 Congress was divulged in 2017.

“The mix of the Canal’s colossal nature and complexity combine all the existing elements pertaining to water management,” said Prieto.

It should be stressed that, apart from the Canal’s level of scientific and technological excellence, other factors were key in the selection of Panama as the event’s host country.

Prieto explained, “Another major point that caught the attention of the selection committee during the presentation of the country’s attributes were the intangible factors that are not necessarily related to the topic of water. Panama is its people, its culture, and the charm behind each Panamanian’s friendliness. It is the charm behind each of its historical places and the dishes of its varied culinary offer, and of each and every beach of its two coastlines. Panama offers safety, a multicultural environment, and endless recreational activities for all tastes, age brackets, and budgets. Panama offers a modern face, but also a rich folklore that helps preserve its cultural roots. It offers a first-class, avant-garde service that is synonymous with an unforgettable and pleasant experience. Panama offers a unique and extraordinary opportunity to live incredible moments as if you were at home”.

According to conservative expectations, the event will foster the arrival of 800 attendees from all continents, especially from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The countries with the largest numbers of participants are Spain, China, USA, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Panama, among others.

A total of 6 major topics (each divided into various sub-topics) will be addressed by world-renowned keynote speakers during the Congress. These are: Hydraulic Structures (Jing Peng, China & Hubert Chanson, USA), Port & Coastline Engineering (Íñigo Losada, Spain), Hydro-environment (Vladimir Nikora, United Kingdom), Hydroinformatics (Lin Chuxue, China), River & Silt Management (Marcelo García, Argentina), and Climatic Changes & Extreme Weather Events (Tosi Nakaegawa, Japan & Felipe Arreguín, Mexico).

Panama City’s Riu Plaza hotel will host most of the Congress’ events, except for those on September 4, which will feature field trips to Miraflores Locks and Biomuseo, the Canal’s Atlantic facilities, and the Panama Bay Sanitation Project, in Juan Díaz.

The goals the event’s organizers expect to achieve are the strengthening of the global community of students, professors, and experts in water management; the promotion of a scientific synergy contained in the Congress’ main topics, and to show the world, with the aid of sponsors, the technological advances with regards to products and services developed in the field.