The 14th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics, held in Nanjing, China during October 10-13, 2022, was hosted by the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR), and co-organized by Hohai University, Tsinghua University, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, and Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the symposium took a hybrid form combining online and onsite meetings.

Prof. Hongwu Tang, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, pointed out in his opening address that Chinese President Xi Jinping has given important instructions about water resources management in multiple occasions, and has provided scientific guidelines for high-quality water resources management prioritizing ecology, emphasizing green development, and coordinating human and water. Professor Tang reviewed the contributions made by the co-hosts Hohai University, Tsinghua University, and Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute to researches of water science and engineering, and proposed that the participants of the symposium make strategic discussions, break down barriers between disciplines, promote interdisciplinary integrations, carry out top level international co-operations, and foster the development of ecohydraulics together.

Prof. Joseph Hun-wei Lee, IAHR President, reviewed in his opening address how IAHR evolved from focusing solely on hydraulic research to covering all aspects of water sciences and committing itself to the long-term development of this field. He wished that the symposium could provide an open, effective, and cross-disciplinary platform for worldwide experts and scholars to communicate and exchange views, and further invigorate the development of the discipline of ecohydraulics.

Prof. Gregory Pasternack, Chair of the IAHR Technical Committee on Ecohydraulics, introduced in his opening address the history of the Committee and the efforts made by the Committee in organizing conferences, publishing journals, recruiting personnel, constructing networks, providing platforms for communication, sharing cutting-edge scientific progress, and solving problems of global concern in the field.

Dr. Yuzhi Zhong, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Water Resources of China, introduced in his opening address the role of aquatic ecology civilization development in supporting and bolstering the construction of Beautiful China. He reviewed the glorious achievements of the Chinese government in preventing flood and drought disasters, rehabilitating aquatic ecology, and managing aquatic environment, revealed the challenges of ecohydraulics under the condition of global environmental changes, and stressed the importance of this symposium in fostering communications, promoting development of the discipline, boosting environmental protection and management across China and the world.

⯭ Opening addresses

Keynote speeches were given by Prof. Jinren Ni from Peking University, Prof. Evelyn Habit from University of Concepción, Chile, Prof. Thibault Datry from French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, Prof. Brian D. Fath from Towson University, Maryland, USA, and Prof. Taylor Maavara from University of Leeds, UK.

⯭ Keynote speeches

The symposium covered five major themes: hydrologic aspect of ecohydraulics, the hydraulic aspect of ecohydraulics, ecohydraulics on micro-scale, ecohydraulics on macro-scale, and applied technology in ecohydraulics, and encompasses 30 cutting-edge research topics. Over 180 experts and scholars from over 30 countries and regions gave presentations in parallel sessions.

In the closing ceremony, Prof. Hongwei Fang generalized the abundancy of topics covered and the highlights of the symposium. He summarized the challenges of ecohydraulics in the future. Chairs of the Local Organizing Committee of next International Symposium on Ecohydraulics (ISE 2024), Prof. Valérie Ouellet from NOAA and Prof. André St-Hilaire from Université du Québec introduced the preparations made for ISE 2024, which will be convened in Québec, Canada.

⯭ Closing ceremony

The International Symposium on Ecohydraulics is one of the most important technical conferences hosted by IAHR. It is an important platform for researchers worldwide to meet each other, discuss on scientific progresses, and demonstrate state-of-the-art technical methods.

» Visit the website of ISE2022
» Watch the video recordings in IAHR Video Library
» View the proceedings