The vision and scope of the Science for Solution decade is now crystallising after intense engagement within the IAHS community during this first year. You can follow the progress of the strategic planning (here). The next step is to kick-off the working groups to get into action!

Thank you to everyone who has signed up to the Working Groups for the Science for Solutions HELPING decade. Applications are still being received – go to https://iahs.info/Initiatives/Topic-for-the-Next-IAHS-decade/helping-working-groups/ and sign up to the working group of your choice via the website link (or contact the IAHS secretariat for assistance if you cannot access Google forms).

Currently, we are encouraging the Working Group leaders to be in touch with the people who have already signed up to their Working Group this month, to further iterate on scope and organisation of the collaborative work they foresee.

To share these actions with the full HELPING community, there will be two online meetings Thursday 2 and 9 November (at 13-16 CET). We expect 3-hr meetings where each working group leader (or another appointed person) present their idea for 2 minutes (max 2 ppt slides) followed by comments and questions from the audience. The presentations will be organised in the Themes and follow the structure of already identified goals (see here: https://iahs.info/Initiatives/Topic-for-the-Next-IAHS-decade/helping-working-groups/). Thereafter, time will be given for each Working Group to elaborate a more detailed workplan in parallel discussions (separate break-out in virtual rooms). 

A poll link will be shared via the Working Group leaders soon and a Zoom link will be shared via the Working Group leaders later this month. Note the two days are the same so you can attend one or both.

AGENDA for both 2 and 9 November 

13.00 – 13.10 CET Introduction to the Science for Solution decade HELPING - content and procedures (Berit Arheimer)

13.10 - 13.40 CET Theme 1: HELPING with global and local interactions (“2 min of madness”-presentations)

13.40 – 13.55 CET Open discussion on Theme 1 focus and goals

13.55 – 14.00 CET Sanity break

14.00 – 14.25 CET Theme 2: HELPING with holistic solutions for water security (“2 min of madness”-presentations)

14.25 – 14.40 CET Open discussion on Theme 2 focus and goals

14.40 – 14.55 CET Theme 3: HELPING with cross-cutting goals (“2 min of madness”-presentations)

14.55 – 15.10 CET Open discussion on Theme 3 focus and goals

15.10 – 15.15 CET Sanity break

15.15 – 15.45 CET Discussion in break-out groups for each WG (split audience into parallel rooms)

15.45 – 16.00 CET Reunion in plenary for feedback and open discussion on way forward.

Note that it is up to each working group to agree on activities, deliverables, and time-plan with participants. Some working groups may have a very specific aim and last for short time – while others may be more general and evolve over the full decade, using a living planning process.

Moreover, we have started to formulate an opinion paper to launch the vision of the Science for Solution decade HELPING in HSJ.

Looking forward to seeing you soon online!

Organisation of the 3rd Decade