General

What's in Our Water Symposium: WiOW Series

This symposium has always focussed on micropollutants such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment, with a view to share the latest research and development towards minimising the impact of micropollutants and managing their ecological risks to the environment. 

Since 2004, the symposium has been held every few years as an activity of the special interest group on micropollutants within the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, SETAC Australasia (formerly Australasian Society for Ecotoxicology).

During this period, the series has been able to attract world authorities as plenary speakers on this topic, including Drs Susan Jobling (UK), Dana Kolpin (USA), Andreas Kortenkamp (UK), Bent Halling Sorenson (Denmark), Shane Snyder (USA), Taisen Iguchi (Japan),  Larry Barber (USA), Urs Von Gunten (Switzerland) and John Stark (USA).

This successful WiOW series has always been attended by a diverse range of audiences drawn from researchers, academia, government, industry, regulators and policy makers. Some notable achievements of the series include “The Black Mountain Declaration” in 2007 on the issue of EDCs and a workshop with policy makers from across Australia through the National Water Commission.

The 6th Symposium in the series was held in Canberra at the CSIRO Discovery Centre in 2018 and there was representation from several countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, USA, Canada, Austria, The Netherlands, China and Korea, contributing to a total of around 120 delegates.  The popular single-track format ensures an inclusive atmosphere and great networking opportunities for researchers, managers, policy makers and all others interested in the identification and management of micropollutants in the environment. 

In 2018 there was a strong focus on per and poly-fluorinated substances (PFAS), with sessions that covered exposure, fate, effects and remediation of PFAS in the environment. There were also sessions on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), microplastics, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and other emerging contaminants, treatment processes and technologies, risk assessment, management, regulation and policy.   The four invited speakers in 2018 were David Sedlak (UC Berkeley, USA), Annegaaike Leopold (Calidris environment BV, The Netherlands), Ed Topp (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) and Virginia Baker (Institute for Environmental Science & Research, New Zealand).

Revitalising the health of our water involves implementing solutions rooted in knowledge and understanding. By applying informed strategies, we aim to restore and enhance the overall well-being of our water resources.

Join us on a journey at the WiOW 2024 symposium, where we weave together scientific insights and a shared dedication to traditional knowledge. Join us in strengthening the groundwork for a sustainable future, ensuring that water stands as a crucial resource, sustaining not only human communities but the entire ecosystem. 

We look forward to inviting you to the 8th WiOW Symposium in Ngunnawal Country (Canberra), 2024.