Virtual Conference from the Water Governance Working Group
27-28 August 2026
Water is one of the most critical challenges of our time. It does not adhere to political or administrative boundaries, and its abundance or scarcity can each generate complex and far-reaching problems. Because water systems are inherently interconnected and dynamic, any intervention that fails to account for this complexity risks creating unintended consequences.
In addition to the stresses imposed by climate change, structural, institutional, and governance limitations further complicate effective water management. The close interdependence between hydrological systems and society adds another layer of difficulty. Social demands, land-use change, economic pressures, and policy decisions shape—and are shaped by—hydrological processes in ways that require deep interdisciplinary understanding. Moreover, the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence introduces new opportunities and challenges for water governance.
This conference convenes researchers and practitioners to examine these intertwined challenges and opportunities. We encourage submissions that advance integrated perspectives and methods, while also welcoming contributions grounded in disciplinary, comparative, and practice-based approaches that offer clear insights for water governance. The conference will be held exclusively online, and we invite abstract submissions from contributors worldwide. We welcome work addressing water governance challenges across diverse geographic, institutional, and socio-ecological contexts.
Key Dates
- 31 May 2026 — Long abstract submission deadline
- 15 July 2026 — Notification of accepted submissions
- 22 July 2026 — Full paper submission deadline
- 27–28 August 2026 — Conference (online)
Best Paper Awards
There will be a best paper award. Only full paper submissions will be considered for the award.
Call for Submissions - The deadline for submission has passed
We invite participants to submit a long abstract (maximum 1,500 words).
Organizing Committee
- Mahdi Taraghi (PhD student in Environmental Science and Ostrom Fellow; Indiana University Bloomington)
- Maija Halonen-Akatwijuka (Associate Professor in Economics; University of Bristol)
- Lavanya Suresh (Associate Professor, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India)
- Anahí Ocampo-Melgar (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Forestry Sciences and its Environment, at Universidad de Chile)
- Arezoo Mirzaei (Postdoctoral researcher at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany)