Renowned scientists will give presentations on the state of the art and on future challenges and research needs.

 

1st presentation – Keynote lecture by Prof. Dr. Manfred Max-Neef , Chile :
Urban areas and riverscapes: A futurologist view.  

• What are the key future trends and potential scenarios for managing increasing urbanisation, increasing water demands and uses, and climate change?
• How do aquatic ecosystems – in terms of e.g. disturbed processes, biodiversity loss – respond to these pressures?
• What are the societal consequences of the altered provision of ecosystem services?

 Manfred Max-Neef is a Chilean economist who has gained an international reputation for his work on development alternatives. In particular, his work has focused on the third world and on the idea of stimulating self-reliance while satisfying our fundamental human needs. In 1981 Manfred Max-Neef wrote the book for which he is best known, “From the Outside Looking In: Experiences in Barefoot Economics”, which seeks to counter the logic of economics with the ethics of well being. Max-Neef received the Right Livelihood Award "for revitalising small and medium-sized communities, fostering self-confidence, and reinforcing the roots of the people." (http://www.rightlivelihood.org)

 

2nd presentation: The role of ecosystem function in guaranteeing ecosystem services.

• How can we ensure ecosystem function under increasing urbanisation, increasing water demands, climate change, and changing recreation behaviour?
• What are the requirements for ecosystems/biocoenoses to withstand or recover from anthropogenic disturbances?

 

3rd presentation: Societal demands for aquatic ecosystem services.  

• How will societal demands on aquatic ecosystem shift under alternative global change scenarios?
• How can future ecosystem service demands be managed under changed environmental conditions?
• What driving forces can ensure the sustainable behaviour of humans and guarantee aquatic ecosystem services in urbanised landscapes?