Location: Grand Rapids, MI
The 2017 Water History Conference will take place June 14 to 16 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Hosted by Western Michigan University’s (WMU) Freshwater Science and Sustainability program, the event will be held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. This marks the first time the international conference has been brought to the U.S. The conference provides a platform for leading researchers to exchange and develop insights about the history and future of water. Individuals from more than 15 nations are expected to attend.
The bi-annual conference has been developed to generate public awareness about the role of water in world history and to promote public participation in resolving water resource issues. Conference sessions will include discussions on a variety of international issues related to water resources that range from mountain lakes to major river systems and coastal areas. Some topics will include “Water as agent for social change: Dam-building and irrigation case studies of poor relief projects in early twentieth century South Africa,” and “A Small River and the Big Capitals: The Logic of Qin Huai He River Management of China.” Discussions also will include such Michigan issues as the Flint water crisis, the Detroit River, the Grand River and more. The event is being co-organized by the International Water History Assn. and WMU’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.
