About YWP2006

Introduction

The International Water Association (Australia, AIWA) in conjunction with the Australian Water Association (AWA) is pleased to announce the 1st Australian Young Water Professionals (YWP) Conference.

The YWP conference aims to provide a national forum at which postgraduate researchers and young professionals working in water and wastewater research, technology and management can present their research and have the opportunity to meet their peers. In addition to the formal presentation of papers and posters, workshops conducted by senior research and industry representatives will be held exploring opportunities for career development in the water sector. The objective of this and the AIWA and AWA mentorship programs is to assist in providing career support, development and mobility to YWP.

Social activities will include a conference dinner, allowing delegates to share experiences in undertaking academic and industrial research in an informal environment. The conference program will also include a technical tour of Sydney's Olympic Park and its state-of-the-art water recycling plant. Additional opportunities to visit Sydney's sewage treatment plants are also planned.

Conference Committee

Conference Theme

One of the aims of the conference is to discover the broad range of water-based research and activities carried out in Australia. Therefore, submissions on all aspects of water and wastewater technology, engineering and management are invited.

Conference Prizes

AIWA will be providing awards for the best manuscript, poster and oral presentation. A bursary, including a return flight ticket to the next IWA Young Researchers Conference in Singapore (May 2006) will also be awarded.

Call for Papers

Full papers are invited for submission for possible oral or poster presentation. The paper (4-6 pages including diagrams and/or illustrations in Word format) will be refereed by the Conference Organising Committee. Submissions should be made via the Conference e-mail (ywp2006@unsw.edu.au). The deadline for submissions is 25th November 2005.

The Committee will select papers and posters to be presented at the conference and notify authors by 23rd December 2005.

Please note that places to attend this conference will be limited. The only guarantee to participate in this event is to submit a high-quality paper that could be selected for oral or poster presentation.

In order to attract as many Young Water Professionals as possible, efforts have been made to keep the registration fees as small as possible (around $300 including IWA Membership, dinners, lunches and technical tours). Attendees without IWA membership will join the organisation as part of their registration.

What is a Young Water Professional?

There is no hard and fast definition of a YWP. As a guide however program activities may be most relevant to those under the age of 35 years; those with up to 10 years water sector experience across all disciplines (regardless of credentials) or those "young at heart".

Connecting the next generation of leaders in the water sector

The YWP programs exist to engage, represent, service and inspire younger or newer water sector employees. In addition to regular member services and benefits, the YWP program aims to provide information, resources and events that will improve career opportunities for the next generation of water professionals and, in so doing, enhance the value of their contribution to the sustainable management of water. By specifically embracing this next generation of water workers, the YWP programs are seeking to secure a more sustainable water future and develop a water sector that is forward looking and able to respond effectively to new social, economic and environmental dynamics.

Please see (www.ywp.iwahq.com) or (www.awa.asn.au) for more details

For more information contact:
Dr Michael Storey (CSIRO Urban Water) or Dr Pierre Le-Clech (UNSW) at ywp2006@unsw.edu.au