Healthy and Resilient Catchments – From Science to Action
From 2–8 July 2023, Prague, Czechia, hosted the iNNO SED Summer School 2023, bringing together the next generation of young water professionals. The program focused on Natural Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRM) to promote sustainable water management and enhance catchment resilience.
Partnership and Objectives
Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe (GWP CEE), as a partner of the EU Horizon 2020 OPTAIN project, selected 20 young specialists from 16 countries to deepen their knowledge of water management, environmental management, and water security, with a special focus on NSWRM.
Building on the latest findings from OPTAIN, the Summer School strengthened participants’ skills in applying scientific knowledge to practice. The program highlighted how climate, scale, catchment location, and combinations of NSWRM affect environmental and socio-economic performance.
Program Highlights and Practical Experience
Participants had the opportunity to:
- Develop NSWRM planning scenarios based on stakeholder priorities and environmental conditions.
- Apply a step-by-step, science-based analysis of NSWRM.
- Explore governance aspects of NSWRM implementation.
- Experience real-life challenges by working on a specific location with local stakeholders.
- Present solutions at a multi-stakeholder forum for feedback and evaluation.
The program included lectures, practical exercises, and a field trip to the Cechticky region, one of OPTAIN’s case study areas. Participants received guidance from expert lecturers and tutors throughout the program.
Participants and Support
The Summer School was open to MSc and PhD students in water management, environmental management, or related fields, as well as young professionals from OPTAIN partner countries: Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland. English fluency in spoken and written form was required.
Organizers covered:
- Lectures, practical exercises, and all program activities
- Meals and accommodation for the duration of the Summer School
- Field trip to the Cechticky case study area
- Travel subsidy of up to 250 EUR per participant
Legacy of the Summer School
iNNO SED Summer School 2023 offered an interdisciplinary, hands-on learning experience, allowing young professionals to co-create practical solutions for local stakeholders. By combining scientific knowledge with real-world applications, participants enhanced their competencies in sustainable water management and the broader field of water security.